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The ACT Party on Health Care

Possibly the largest domestic issue in 2008, health care is a problem that is universally recognized and answered with a diversity of prescriptions from the candidates. Private versus government funded health care and the definition of "universal" care split the candidates across their respective policies. This topic includes information about candidate positions on: universal health care, privatization of health care, government support for health care through tax incentives, and employer assistance in obtaining health care.

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The issues

The ACT Party strongly supports private-public partnerships/more private sector involvement in the health sector

Act believes in “Increased competition in healthcare provision leading to reduced prices and improved quality”. Its policy says “People should have a choice of competing healthcare products and policies in order to select the type of coverage best suited to their individual and family needs”. Leader Rodney Hide said in August this year that , "The Government should hand the running of Health services over to doctors and nurses, and contract with the private sector when it makes sense to do so”.

The ACT Party strongly supports efforts to encourage New Zealanders to take out private health insurance

Act believes that “every New Zealander deserves the same high standard of treatment that currently the wealthy achieve through private insurance schemes”. The party would cut tax and “families and individuals will use the extra money from the tax reduction direct with the supplier or with any approved healthcare insurer they wish to for catastrophic cover”.

The ACT Party strongly opposes the introduction of cheaper dental healthcare

Act opposes extending government subsidies for dental care, preferring a competitive health market.

The ACT Party strongly opposes free doctors’ visits and prescriptions being offered to all children of primary school age

Act opposes government subsidised healthcare, preferring the private market model. It says “that more government and more bureaucrats are not the answer for better Healthcare”.

The ACT Party strongly supports Pharmac extending the funding of the anti-cancer Herceptin from nine weeks to 12 months

Act supports extending the funding to cover a 12-month course of the drug and says Pharmac’s decision not to is “ridiculous”. Act deputy leader Heather Roy said in August this year, “Rather than worrying about how to carve up the economic cake, we must grow a bigger one to ensure that we can afford to fund 12-month Herceptin treatments - as well as making available other quality medications we currently miss out on”.

The ACT Party strongly opposes removing high fat/sugar foods from schools

Act opposes removing high fat/sugar foods from schools. Its policy says “Schools like any business should be responsible for managing their own affairs”.

The ACT Party strongly supports opening ACC to competition from the private sector

A firm supporter of private markets, Act says that under its policies, “All New Zealanders will have the choice of buying the welfare products they need in a competitive open marketplace (health cover, sickness, accident and health insurance)”.