Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
General practitioners say a Government plan to freeze doctors’ fees for 12 months is a political reaction to rising healthcare costs — and one that risks accelerating the shift toward a two‑tier health system.
The proposal, floated in recent weeks as part of a new clinic funding formula, comes after months of public concern about the cost of seeing a GP. In some regions, standard appointments have climbed close to $100, driven by inflation, workforce shortages, and rising clinic overheads. With an election approaching, the Government has signalled it wants to stop further increases by imposing a temporary fees freeze.
General Practitioners Aotearoa (GPA) says the move may sound like relief for patients, but without proper funding behind it, the freeze will do more harm than good.
“This is being sold as a cheap cost‑of‑living win, but it’s going to hurt your pocket more in the very near future,” says GPA Chair Dr Buzz Burrell.
Under the Government’s proposal, clinics would receive a modest funding uplift through a new formula — but GPA says the increase won’t keep pace with inflation for most practices, and some will be left worse off. In exchange, clinics would be banned from raising patient fees for a year.
“I am absolutely on the side of decreasing patient fees,” Burrell says. “But this Government isn’t trying to lower fees — they are trying to pass the buck.”
General practices operate as independent businesses, funded through a mix of government subsidies and patient co‑payments. Burrell says if the Government refuses to fund the real cost of care, clinics will be forced to cut services, reduce staff, or shift toward private‑pay models.
“To make this work, clinics will have to employ fewer doctors to look after more patients, or offload GP work to nurses without proper support,” he says. “The third option, which is happening more and more, is concierge medicine — private GPs where patients pay specialist rates for premium access.”
Burrell warns that without adequate funding, the freeze will mean longer waits, fewer GPs entering the workforce, and a widening gap between those who can afford care and those who cannot.
“If the intention is to hollow out public general practice, then just tell us. If not, the Government needs to fund its fees‑freeze promise.”
