59651 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

59651 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: How will the government maintain the current level of health services without increasing the baseline budget, if at all?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: The Government has increased the level of funding. Budget 2024 included an increase in baseline funding to meet health cost pressures for Vote Health that will be staged over three budgets, with $5.720 billion in additional funding over the forecast period made available through Budget 2024 ($1.430 billion per annum from 2024/25) and a further pre-commitment of $5.480 billion to be made against each of Budget 2025 ($1.370 billion per annum from 2025/26) and Budget 2026 ($1.370 billion per annum from 2026/27). This funding has been added to baselines to ensure that the current level of health services can be maintained.