A boost of $691 million will be needed in the Budget's operational health spending for the public health system just to maintain the existing level of services, unions say.
But in real terms, an increase of that size would "represent a further decline in public health funding over recent years", said Ian Powell, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists which, with the Council of Trade Unions, has analysed health spending, ahead of Thursday's Budget.
"We're seeing the effects of that decline in the number of people who are really struggling to be treated for a wide range of conditions. These are ordinary New Zealanders who can't get the surgeries they need to get them back to work or leading active lives."
If the Government's pre-Budget announcements of new health services are included, the increase in operational spending would need to be more than $750 million -- for the system simply to stand still -- Mr Powell said.
CTU economist Bill Rosenberg said most of the health budget went to district health boards, whose combined budget required an increase of $551 million to maintain the current level of DHB services.