Rotorua and Taupo residents enjoy much cheaper health care than most of New Zealand. That could all change in the general election. Health reporter ALISON BROWN found conflicting reactions to the possible changes.
JOHN Armstrong and Iain Loan are both GPs - but that's where the similarity ends.
Their views on how health funding should be targeted couldn't be more different, the two reacting differently to National's health funding policy, which could see wealthy people pay more to see their doctor.
Some, like Taupo's Dr Loan, have slammed the policy, saying it's a backward step that will mean sick people will be put off expensive GP visits.
Others, like Rotorua GP Dr Armstrong, argue the policy guarantees limited health dollars are spent more effectively.
National's health funding policy, released this week, has signalled the party's intention to give subsidies to young people, elderly and low-income earners.
National Party leader Don Brash has promised to retain Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) - set up in 2003 to encourage preventative health care through easier access to doctors - but he will drop subsidies for some patients.
People aged under 25 or over 65 would continue to pay low doctors' fees, but people between those ages would only pay low fees if they were entitled to a special health card.
National is yet to announce who will be eligible for the card but, without it, GPs estimate patients will pay between $50 and $60 for a standard visit.
PHOs in the Lakes district - Health Rotorua and Lake Taupo PHO - charge an adult no more than $23 and $22 respectively.
Dr Loan, a Taupo Health Centre GP, described National's policy as "totally shortsighted", arguing $50 charges would be a serious barrier for many locals.
"It will really, really hurt a lot of people," he said. "This is a real backward step."
Lake Taupo PHO chief executive Jeremy Mihaka-Dyer said while he could see benefits to targeted funding as suggested by National, a health card would be costly to administer and may not reach everyone who needed it.
"Many enrolled patients in this PHO will think twice about attending the GP, particularly for routine care, if there are no subsidies," he said. "That represents a big risk around the diagnosis and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart disease and mental health."
More than 60,000 patients enrolled with Health Rotorua PHO receive a universal subsidy and pay no more than $3 for a prescription.
The PHO's chief executive, Fiona Thomson, said while a universal subsidy was easier for PHOs to administer, a targeted subsidy scheme guaranteed those patients who were most at need received the greatest benefits.
John Armstrong, a Rotorua GP for 27 years, agreed, arguing subsidies for middle to high income earners was not making the best use of the country's limited health dollars.
"One of the disappointments of the PHO system when it was introduced was that low income earners, which includes Maori, were actually no better off than before. GPs saw that as a major issue."
Dr Armstrong did not think higher doctors' fees would discourage wealthier people from visiting their GP.
A visit by the Daily Post to Lynmore, one of Rotorua's most affluent suburbs, found few residents upset by National's policy.
Nancy Dawson said subsidies should be given to those people who needed them most. Any extra doctors' charges would be offset by potential tax cuts, she said.
On the streets of Rotorua, most people said they would be happy to pay more to visit a GP if tax cuts meant they would have more money to spend.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Helen Clark was to visit Rotorua this afternoon.
Included in her schedule was an appearance at Rotorua Hospital, where she was to meet her management and staff to discuss her party's health policies.
She was also to visit Kilwell Sports and take a brief walkabout through central Rotorua before heading to the Ohau Channel diversion at 4pm to launch Labour's local government policy.
Under Labour:
Roll-out of universal subsidies continues
Low-cost GP visits for everyone in the Lakes district
Low-cost prescriptions for everyone in the Lakes district
Under National
Maintain a universal subsidy for the young and retired
Introduce targeted subsidies for people between 25 and 64
Health cards for low-income earners
Cheap visits to the doctor under threat?
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.