The report “The Heart of Healthcare: Renewing New Zealand’s Primary Care System” highlights the economic benefits of investing in general practice, showing potential cost savings and improved patient care compared to emergency department visits.
The report “The Heart of Healthcare: Renewing New Zealand’s Primary Care System” emphasizes the economic advantages of investing in general practice to alleviate hospital pressure and enhance patient care. Authored by Dr. Prabani Wood, a former GP with 15 years of experience, the report underscores the recent initiatives by Health Minister Simeon Brown to address GP shortages as a starting point for necessary systemic reforms.
Notably, the cost of an emergency department visit without hospital admission is approximately $650, compared to around $50 for a GP consultation, highlighting substantial savings potential in primary care. The report cites the Oregon primary care program, demonstrating that for every $1 increase in primary care funding, $13 is saved in other healthcare services, suggesting similar benefits could be realized in New Zealand.
Dr. Wood recommends three key actions for the government: reforming the outdated GP funding model, implementing a unified national health IT system, and developing team-based care models to ensure continuity with the same doctor. Emphasizing the importance of the Social Investment Approach, she advocates for early interventions to achieve better health outcomes and cost savings, urging the government to conduct research on the economic returns of primary care investments.
