THREE KEY FACTS New Zealand is currently 485 GPs short and “will struggle to train or bring in enough international medical graduates to meet this demand”, a briefing to Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has warned. A survey of 220 general practice staff found four out of five had stopped or limited their enrolments over the previous three years. After-hours medical services in some regions are on the verge of collapse, as overworked GPs signal they can no longer provide cover or the funding falls short.
Shirley Ross is the director of clinical and care services at Oceania, an aged-care and retirement provider. OPINION New Zealand is facing an undeniable healthcare crisis that cannot be ignored. The shortage of general practitioners (GPs) has reached alarming levels, with projections indicating a deficit of 300 GPs within the next decade.
This is compounded by an already overwhelmed GP workforce. Increasing complexity in care, unsolicited work due to a lack of capacity elsewhere and a funding model that is no longer fit for purpose represent a perfect storm. Simultaneously, the industry is grappling with an exodus of registered nurses (RNs) seeking higher salaries overseas.
This double-edged sword indeed creates a perfect storm that threatens our healthcare system, particularly impacting our elderly population, who rely heavily on consistent and accessible medical care. It is time to confront an uncomfortable truth: our current healthcare model is unsustainable. Relying solel.
