Cheap healthcare not for all

By KEVIN TAYLOR

The cost of going to the doctor depends on where you live.

Rotorua is covered by Primary Health Organisations with cheap fees - but most South Islanders won't get similar benefits anytime soon.

That's because Rotorua has more Maori and Pacific Islanders than the South Island, say the New Zealand Medical Association GPs Council and the National Party.

Rotorua PHOs are funded under the Government's "Access" formula, which provides bigger subsidies for doctor's visits and other primary healthcare than most South Island patients get.

Access PHOs have to show 50 per cent or more of their patients are Maori, Pacific Islanders and/or very poor.

The formula is being reviewed as part of Race Relations Minister Trevor Mallard's drive to erase race-based favours from Government policy, but Health Minister Annette King argues the formula is not race-based and will pass the test.

PHOs have come under the spotlight as the Government today introduces a $26 a patient subsidy per doctor's visit for those aged 65 and over. The change affects about 300,000 people enrolled in "interim" PHOs.

Today also marks two years since the first PHOs opened. Five PHOs start today, two in Northland and one each in Horowhenua, the Hutt Valley and Southland. With the existing network they will cover 3.5 million people.

National says it will abolish race-based funding and apply primary health funding based on individual need. Health spokeswoman, Lynda Scott, said it was wrong South Islanders could not get cheaper care because not enough Polynesians lived there.

But Ms King said the South Island's problem was an ageing population, and PHOs were delivering more benefits for them from today.