New Zealand medical groups call for increased primary care and rural health funding

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and the Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are advocating for increased investment in primary care and rural medicine. The College has launched a national campaign and a five-point manifesto ahead of the 2026 election, calling for greater funding to address inequities in health access.

Key priorities include increasing primary care investment, funding full practice workloads, strengthening clinical leadership, growing the GP and rural workforce, and improving health equity. The College notes that while primary care manages approximately 90 percent of medical issues, it receives only about 6 percent of the health budget, significantly lower than the OECD average of 14 percent.

Addressing the rural workforce is a central focus, as rural communities face poorer health outcomes and significant barriers to care. To combat recruitment struggles and an aging workforce, the College has proposed ‘GP Rural’, a postgraduate pathway within the General Practice Education Programme designed to provide sustained preparation for rural practice.