Dunne backs GP subsidies

United Future would keep universal subsidies for GP visits, but change spending priorities so that families had access to them first.

Leader Peter Dunne says the policy could create a "potential head-on clash" in any post-election talks with National, which wants to restrict the subsidies to those on lower incomes.

But he added: "In this process everyone's policies are essentially going to be negotiable in a post-election environment."

Labour is introducing GP subsidies incrementally and has begun with high-need groups: the young, the elderly and poorer communities.

Mr Dunne said too many families were missing out.

His party believed parents should pay no more than $20 a visit, school children no more than $10, and under-6s should get free visits.

The plan is one of four key planks of United's health policy, released yesterday.

Like the Green Party, United would give everyone a free annual "warrant of fitness" health check, aimed at isolating potential problems early - although the nature of the checks would be different.

Mr Dunne said men's health would benefit since they were traditionally reluctant to see doctors.

While it differs from National on GP subsidies, United agrees with its push for greater use of private healthcare providers to tackle waiting lists.

It wants to set up a "contestable fund" from existing healthcare spending to enable public and private providers to tender for operations.

"Frankly, it's a scandal that we have unused surgical capacity in this country and waiting lists," said United healthcare spokeswoman and deputy leader Judy Turner. "It's a disgrace based on ideological rigidity."

The surgery backlogs were because of staff shortages - another issue United Future would address urgently.

The party wants to cut tuition fees for aspiring health professionals and to offer student loan write-offs to those willing to be bonded to periods of service in New Zealand.

As already signalled, it wants Pharmac reviewed to ensure better access to up-to-date drugs.

Act has also released its health policy, arguing that tax relief would enable more people to get private health insurance and operations.

About 180,000 people at any one time were waiting to see a specialist or to have an operation.

Act health spokeswoman Heather Roy said the party would reduce the numbers waiting on lists by 120,000 over three years by removing $250 million in wasted spending.

District health boards would be required to contract private hospitals to do the operations.