Seven more Primary Health Organisations open

Seven more Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) opened today and Health Minister Annette King says more than one in four people now have access to low-cost primary care.

The latest batch brings the total to 53 since the first PHOs were established on in July last year.

PHOs are local health provider organisations run by District Health boards with GPs, nurses, family planning and other professional services.

Patients register with PHOs and low-income people receive cheaper care.

Ms King said that from today all six to 17-year-olds enrolled in PHOs would get cheaper health care as well, an estimated 297,000 young people.

From July 1 next year all people over 65 will come into the same scheme.

Ms King said PHOs now covered more than two million people, and of the 53 that have been established 34 are funded to look after high-need population groups.

National's associate health spokeswoman Judith Collins said communities should not celebrate.

"The funding of PHOs is unfair because it is race and location-based rather than based on the health needs of patients," she said.

"Patients whose GP practice doesn't join a PHO miss out on access to subsidised health care, while others who might not need subsides healthcare will get it automatically."

She said National would improve patient access to cheaper doctor visits by spreading funding equally across the country and basing it on patient need.

- NZPA