Budget 2024: THINK Hauora statement - Health Budget 24

“Primary Care sustainability remains a core challenge for our workforce and it’s disappointing to see that Budget 24 provides little to remedy the immediate situation,” says THINK Hauora CEO Amarjit Maxwell.

“Capitation funding for frontline health care has not kept up with inflation. Coupled with rising costs, and increasingly complex patient needs, many practices are struggling to keep the doors open,” she says.

“The knock-on effects of these pressures over the next year means that our population will have less access to the frontline healthcare services in their communities, and more people will end up in emergency departments, adding pressure to our stretched hospital services.”

“While we were pleased to see more funding for child and youth mental health services, it was disappointing to see removal of free prescriptions for many,” she said.

THINK Hauora is committed to achieving Pae ora (healthy futures) and together with our alliance partners, we continue to advocate for equitable, accessible, cohesive and people-centred primary care to achieve the best outcomes in our rohe.” she says.