New Zealand scores well on access to doctors, survey finds

New Zealand is highly rated for primary healthcare access in a report comparing it with Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States.

The Commonwealth Fund's 2004 International Health Policy Survey was due to be released today in Washington.

Health Minister Annette King, who is in Washington for the fund's annual conference, said New Zealand scored highest for access to doctors.

She said 60 per cent of New Zealanders surveyed said they could get same-day appointments with their GP, compared with 54 per cent in Australia, 41 per cent in the UK, 33 per cent in Canada and 19 per cent in the US.

New Zealanders were less likely to encounter waits of six days or more for an appointment to see their family doctor, scoring just 2 per cent compared with 7 per cent in Australia, 13 per cent in Britain, 19 per cent in the US and 25 per cent in Canada.

Access to weekend and after-hours care was also shown to be better in New Zealand, Ms King said in a statement.

"I am aware that there are currently issues around after-hours care in New Zealand, but I am confident these will be worked through and that New Zealand will retain its high reputation in this area," she said.

"The Government is committed to building strong public health services, and primary healthcare is particularly important.

"The survey shows we're doing well in many areas, but to improve the overall health of all New Zealanders we have to keep doing better in areas such as reducing the cost of access to healthcare, particularly for those people on low incomes."

- NZPA