Health Minister Simeon Brown's announcement aims to tackle general practice shortages.
The New Zealand Government has unveiled plans to increase the number of doctors in training. As part of a package to address primary care shortages and improve health outcomes, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced an additional 25 medical school placements per year, bringing the total increase to 100 places annually from 2026. The University of Auckland and the University of Otago will benefit from this allocation.
The Government aims to ensure a sustainable pipeline of New Zealand-trained doctors by investing in local students. This initiative is part of a broader plan to grow the health workforce and provide timely, quality healthcare for all Kiwis. Furthermore, up to 50 New Zealand-trained graduate doctors will be supported each year to train in primary care settings through a funded pathway.
Funding of $23.3 million over four years will support this initiative, allowing talented graduates to pursue careers in primary care. The plan is to allocate the majority of time spent by these doctors in primary care providers rather than hospitals. By increasing the number of doctors and retaining them within New Zealand's health system, the Government hopes to achieve its goal of accessible healthcare for all citizens.