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

National’s 08 policy says, “The judicious use of public-private partnerships can increase the availability of elective surgery and reduce waiting lists. National believes it is more important to ensure patients receive the care they need, sooner, than to obsess about who owns the facility they are treated in”. Further, National’s health discussion paper says, “DHBs should have greater freedom to supplement public services by using private providers, such as private hospitals, GP clinics, and Maori and Pacific health providers.” “The public and private sector should jointly plan for required capacity in both facilities and workforce. Some new hospital infrastructure and investment in new technologies, such as PET scanners, can be financed by public-private partnerships” However, at its heart National still says, “We want a high-quality patient-centred public health system”.

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

According to National policy, “National would give a 30 per cent health insurance rebate, up to $500 a year, to those aged 65 or older.”

The National Party supports the introduction of cheaper dental healthcare

National would develop a dental assistance programme for over-65s, according to party policy.

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

National says it will keep the cap on GPs fees and maintain Government subsidies. While a spokesman says, “Government subsidies will only go up under National”, it does not commit to offering free visits and prescriptions to all primary school-aged children.

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

The National Party has said that if elected it would override Pharmac and approve 12-month treatments [as opposed to nine weeks].

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

National does not support mandates on certain foods in schools. A spokesman said, “National supports the right of parents to choose what’s in their children’s lunchboxes”.

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

National policy is for a more flexible scheme that rewards employers with good workplace safety records, penalises those with poor records, and encourages employers to buy more than the basic cover. With this in mind, National supports the introduction of competition and choice to the ACC Work Account (covering employees and the self-employed at work). We believe this will result in safer workplaces and a more efficient and effective accident compensation system that benefits all New Zealanders.