Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater acknowledges the ambitious programme of medical training proposed by Labour as part of a wider policy to grow the health workforce.
“An additional 285 places over three years is an efficient and swift response to the nation’s doctor crisis, and reflects proposals the University has discussed with successive governments,” Professor Freshwater says.
“Using existing infrastructure, staff and capacity means more doctors can be trained faster in the most cost-effective way for the country.”
The proposal for an additional 95 places each year from 2025 to 2027 is shared between the
existing medical schools at the University of Auckland and the University of Otago and is on top of 50 additional places announced for 2024. The two schools deliver training in towns and cities across the country.
Professor Freshwater says the University is committed to working in partnership with colleagues across the education and health systems to respond to the health workforce crisis.
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Dean, Professor John Fraser says, “By nature, our sector is collaborative. This can be seen in the previously proposed National Interprofessional
School of Rural Health involving the universities of Auckland, Otago and AUT with the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners and the Rural GP Network which was developed several years ago.”
Both the Universities of Otago and Auckland have been actively engaged with Hauora Taiwhenua, developing proposals for rural health professional education.
Notes
The Labour-led Government announced on 15 June 2023 an additional 50 places shared between the medical schools at Auckland and Otago universities, starting next year. This lifts the total number of places to 589 from the current 539. The announcement today adds to this increase.
National’s Health policy announced on 5 July 2023 provides for an additional 50 places shared between the existing medical schools from 2025 and a third medical school at the University of Waikato with 120 places from 2027. National’s policy states that this will see New Zealand graduating 759 doctors a year by 2030.
