Source: ProCare
3 August 2026
Leading healthcare provider ProCare has today welcomed the Government’s announcement of a $23 million investment to expand skin cancer diagnosis and treatment services through general practice and community-based care. The initiative will support more New Zealanders to have skin lesions assessed and treated closer to home, while helping reduce pressure on hospital services.
ProCare Group CEO Bindi Norwell said the announcement reflects a broader shift towards delivering more healthcare in community settings, where patients can access care earlier, more conveniently and closer to where they live.
“New Zealand has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world, so improving access to timely assessment and treatment of suspicious skin lesions is both clinically important and beneficial for patients.
“General practice is often the first point of contact for people concerned about changes to their skin. Enabling more care to be delivered in the community can improve access, support earlier intervention and help ensure patients receive treatment sooner,” continues Norwell.
The Government has announced funding for GP upskilling, including dermoscopy and skin excision training, with the aim of increasing the number of clinics able to provide skin cancer diagnosis and treatment services.
Norwell said workforce capability and sustainable funding would be key to the success of the programme.
“We welcome the focus on building capability within primary care. General practice teams already deliver a significant amount of complex care in the community, and continued investment in training, equipment and workforce development is essential if we are to expand the range of services that can be safely delivered closer to home.
“The opportunity extends beyond skin cancer treatment. We have seen the value of moving appropriate services out of hospitals and into community settings, improving convenience for patients while making better use of specialist hospital resources.”
ProCare said it would be important to ensure the programme is implemented equitably so that people can access services regardless of where they live.
Dr Allan Moffitt, Clinical Director at ProCare says: “One of the long-standing challenges in healthcare has been variation in access between regions and communities. We support the Government’s intention to develop a more nationally consistent approach and look forward to understanding more about how the programme will be rolled out.
“Early detection and treatment save lives; and for non-melanoma skin cancer this can reduce progression to more major surgery and disfigurement. If this investment helps more people access timely care through their local general practice, it has the potential to deliver significant benefits for patients and for the wider health system thereby releasing resources for the more needy.”
Dr Moffitt said the announcement reinforces the critical role primary care plays in improving health outcomes and managing growing demand across the health sector.
“Strong primary care is one of the best investments we can make as a health system. When patients can access the right care, in a timely fashion, in the right setting, at the lowest cost, everyone benefits.”
About ProCare
ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi.
As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 650,000 patients across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Asian, and second largest Pacific populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to ProCare.