Tū Ora Compass Health extremely disappointed with proposed uplift for Primary Health

Tū Ora Compass Health is extremely disappointed with the proposed uplift for Primary Health and has strong concerns for ongoing general practice sustainability and patient access to preventative care.

Chief Executive Justine Thorpe says the uplift is well below what is required for sustainability, despite the desperate cries from general practice, PHOs and as identified in the Sapere Report.

“Strong primary health care is critical to a sustainable health care system. With the current crisis in the hospital system, it does not make sense for Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand to continue to erode primary health care funding. The recent 4% uplift decision is well short to make up for the long term chronic historical underfunding of general practice capitation funding.

“The resulting uplift will see practices have to raise their patient co-payments, or even close their doors altogether. This creates more barriers to accessing primary care, and undermines the relationships between a practice or provider, and their patients and whānau. More patients will avoid presenting to primary care, and as a result will end up in the hospital system with more complex problems, costing the system more in the long run.

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand had a choice on where to invest their funds, the choice they have made is short sighted and will have longer term impacts for the sustainability of the New Zealand Health Care system.

“We will continue to support and advocate for our practices through this difficult time as we work hard to ensure they can continue to provide sustainable services to their communities.

“General practice and primary care can only continue under these conditions for so long. We expect the continued underfunding over the years to be properly addressed in Budget 2025 with a major, significant increase to support general practice sustainability”.