Election 2020: National Health Policy: More Money for Pharmac, Elective Surgery Guarantees

“Primary Care Navigators” would be included in every general practice to spend more time talking to patients to ensure they receive needed care, under a new national health policy that would also establish new dedicated funding for Pharmac.

National Health Spokesperson Dr. Shane Reti has announced a series of policies as part of a health package, including:

• $ 20 million over four years for a new Pharmac rare disorders fund. National had already pledged $ 200 million over four years for a fund dedicated to cancer drugs.

• Fund “primary care navigator” functions in each general practice. According to a UK model, these people would support doctors by allowing them more time to talk to patients and make follow-up appointments and referrals and make home visits.

• Make sure all people accepted for elective surgery actually undergo that procedure within four months of the decision to treat. (DHBs are currently expected to provide such treatment within four months of accepting a person, but some have had delays.)

• Reintroduce public reports of updated national health goals, eliminated by work, and monitoring DHB performance, including cancer treatment times, elective surgeries, and emergency department wait times.

• Initiate a request for proposal process to establish a medical school focused on the retention of GPs in rural areas.

Following a general overhaul of the health system, the Labor government indicated that it could cut the number of DHBs next term, but National appears to have ruled it out: its policy document states that DHBs “are an essential component of the New Zealand health system. “, but it should cede some planning and financing services” at the regional level. “

Reti said that the total health package would cost about $ 800 million over four years.

“Even before Covid-19, we were seeing cracks in our healthcare system. Access to quality healthcare has been reduced in Labor. Waiting times are increasing and the number of elective surgeries has decreased.”

Other policies announced today include creating a dedicated border protection agency, having DHBs report against a new Maori health strategy, and “passing all health legislation through a filter of inequality”, increasing funding for the cochlear implants from 40 to 100.

A new cancer agency has also been committed, with associated cancer treatment goals. National also says it will fully implement the national bowel cancer screening program within its first year in government (11 of the 20 DHBs are currently undergoing screening, and the ministry estimates the remainder will be screened by December next year. ).

National has previously announced $ 5 million a year to screen more women for gynecologic cancer and fund greater access to clinical trials. It would also establish a surgical mesh registry.

The set of policies did not cover mental health, which will be announced in the coming days.

Reti said that funding the functions of primary care navigators would make a big difference in helping treat people in the early stages of their illness and reducing pressure on hospitals.

“The UK has tested the use of primary care navigators with positive results. National will ensure that every general practice in New Zealand has a government funded primary care navigator.

“They will provide counseling, interact with government agencies, track appointments and referrals, make home visits, and implement primary care health plans in collaboration with each general practice.”

Establishing dedicated funds within Pharmac’s budget would be a major departure from a model that allows the drug purchasing agency to operate independently of political influence. Doctors and patients in some areas of healthcare, such as diabetes, often struggle to get so much media attention and the resulting political pressure for more funding.

However, Reti said that in addition to the funds dedicated to cancer and rare disorders, National would also increase Pharmac funding at the same rate as increases in the health budget, adding about $ 35 million each year.

“The sad reality is that the majority of New Zealand families will be affected by cancer … all New Zealanders should have the ability to access life-saving medicines.”

The rare disorders fund “would ensure that people with rare diseases are not overlooked.”

National’s policy statement states that if a DHB cannot provide a promised elective surgery within four months, “it will be asked to find an alternate provider.”

Its maternity policy includes guaranteeing a three-day postnatal stay for mothers and their babies (which mothers are currently entitled to, but sometimes ignored by services under pressure), and reestablishing maternity units in Lumsden and Wanaka.

The party has already announced an “investment in the first 1000 days” policy that includes a fee of $ 3000 for pregnant women, to be used to spend on services for their baby, and those with the greatest needs will receive up to $ 6000. The package includes better financing for GP visits before and after delivery; allows parents to take paid parental leave at the same time; and establish a “national center for child development” at a university to further research.

An extra $ 30 million a year would go to children’s oral health under National, including pediatric and school dental services.

National’s obesity policy does not include any direct regulations or limits on junk food or its marketing – the party has promised to update the 2015 childhood obesity plan and expand a “daily miles” exercise program to all schools.

The ad is in contrast to Labor, which has yet to announce any major health policy this campaign. Instead, the party’s website lists actions taken in the last period, including the Covid-19 response, an increase in funding for Pharmac, and elective procedures.

A recent flash point has been the resignation of the Canterbury DHB CEO and board members, amid pressure on the board to control deficits. That has sparked protests and staff concerns over the service cuts, but Health Minister Chris Hipkins has insisted that DHBs must return to the black numbers, and those who consistently go over budget should not be rewarded.

National’s health policy document promises to “set clear expectations for DHBs to live within their means through accountability agreements with the chairpersons of the boards.”