Time To Address The REAL Problem In Health

While the Labour-led Government and the National Party argue back and forth over what to do about the problems in the health sector, the reality is that no one is looking at the real problems - workforce issues and productivity, or lack thereof, ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today.

"Around 8,000 operations and specialist appointments will be cancelled while junior doctors strike - but we will only see more strikes and stop work action across the health sector until productivity and workforce issues are addressed," Mrs Roy said.

"Junior doctors are waiting for Health Minister David Cunliffe to offer more money, as he did with senior doctors. But Ministerial meddling and throwing money at health, with no idea of how to address the problems, won't allow Kiwis in pain and suffering to access the services they need.

"The fact is that Labour has injected an extra $6 billion into health since 1999, with no increase in productivity when population growth and inflation are taken into account. It is so concerned about this lack of productivity that it no longer allows Treasury to produce the quarterly monitoring of productivity in the hospital provider arms.

"Meanwhile, the National Party complains long and loud about the situation - but is yet to offer any kind of solution.

"Public health is a monopoly run by bureaucrats. ACT would allow health professionals to take control of hospital departments in return for significantly increased productivity. Clinicians must make decisions on the health of their patients - not bureaucrats who have no idea about who should be seen or what treatment is appropriate," Mrs Roy said.