11241 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

11241 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What changes, if any, in the number of medical students trained would need to occur to fill the estimated shortage of 1000 extra general practitioners by 2023?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that Health New Zealand’s Health Workforce Plan outlines a combination of actions to address the shortage of doctors (including GPs) by 2032. These actions include increased training; supporting GP pathways; recruitment, and retention. Also, as a part of the Government’s 100-day plan, an MOU was signed between the Ministry of Health and the University of Waikato to enable the parties to progress with establishing the business care for a third medical school. A third medical school will increase the number of homegrown health professionals.