mjohnston@nzdoctor.co.nz

General practices handled just as many patient contacts in the national COVID-19 lockdown as they normally do, a study suggests

DHB deficits have swelled to more than $874 million under the influence of the pandemic and holiday pay mistakes, and could go higher yet

The prime minister must decide whether to keep Chris Hipkins as health minister or let him focus on education and find another safe pair of hands for health

Primary care leaders are encouraged that health reform wrangler Stephen McKernan seems to understand their sector’s need for development and extra funding 

New chair of Primary Health Alliance views potential merger with federation as a way to consolidate the ‘too many voices’ in primary care 

A before-and-after study finds the pandemic lockdown made little impact on a Dunedin practice’s number of patient contacts, but had a big impact on the mode of contact 

The NZMA leadership has apologised to members after controversy over its position statement on cannabis use 

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern and National leader Judith Collins sparred over health funding, DHB deficit support and the response to COVID-19 

The Ministry of Health has retracted a false claim in a $90,000 report that many general practices were closed for a time earlier this year because of COVID-19

The Ministry of Health has agreed – at all COVID-19 alert levels – to continue supplying general practices with personal protective equipment needed to swab patients for the disease