PM rejects free doctor visits for under-18s

OSAKA - Prime Minister Helen Clark says the Alliance's push for spending on cheaper healthcare for young people is not possible.

Helen Clark dismissed the Alliance's push for free visits to the doctor for those under 18 as it "hadn't been budgeted for at all, but I understand the Alliance's need to brand itself."

Over the Easter Weekend, while Helen Clark was on a trip to East Asia, Alliance leader Jim Anderton said he was hopeful the Government would adopt universal free doctor visits for teenagers.

He also said money from the Economic Development Ministry would be used to get jobs for students who could not find work during the holidays.

This was because the Alliance's push for them to get paid the dole during that time would not be approved by Labour.

Helen Clark was sceptical about the jobs-for-students idea, but would not rule it out.

"We have a very tight budget and there has been a campaign from student unions' associations about the emergency unemployment benefit," she said.

"But if you put money into that, which is quite a lot of money, it is money you haven't got to put into the university system and we are rather exercised about keeping the fees lower and improving the quality as well.

"In addition, there has been a lot of part-time work available as well ... My view has long been that if we can support students into work over summer that will be a better option anyway than being on a benefit."

Helen Clark said she did not know if the money had been included in next month's Budget, but said Mr Anderton could be planning to use discretionary money from within his ministry's spending allowances.

Mr Anderton was reported as saying the free doctor visits for those under 18 would cost $35 million. But calculations on the cost of tax-paid healthcare for all New Zealanders estimate $350 million would be needed on top of the $276 million paid now.

The increase needed to finance free doctor visits for those under 6 has been about $70 million.

The Alliance has long advocated state-funded healthcare and a benefit for out-of-work students.

The students' measure has been ruled out as the Government has already itself committed to spending most of the money available over the next few years.

The Alliance's announcement comes after poor polling results and attacks from political rivals that the party had failed to achieve what it had promised.

- NZPA