Source: General Practice Owners Association
18 October 2026
GenPro has welcomed ACT’s commitment to invest an additional $400 million in general practice over four years, saying sustained investment is essential to retaining GPs, attracting new doctors and improving access to primary care.
GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers said the commitment recognised the need to strengthen general practice and ensure more New Zealanders could see a GP when they needed one.
“New Zealand’s general practice system is under significant pressure. Patients are struggling to get appointments, practices are facing workforce shortages, and the cost of delivering care continues to rise.
“An additional $100 million a year for general practice is a welcome recognition that we need to invest in the workforce and services that provide the foundation of our health system.”
Dr Chambers says the detail of the funding would be critical to ensuring it delivered meaningful improvements for patients and practices.
“General practice needs sustainable funding that reflects the actual cost of providing care, supports practices to recruit and retain GPs and nurses, and recognises the increasingly complex needs of patients.
“We need to make general practice an attractive and sustainable career, support rural and high-needs practices, and ensure funding keeps pace with the cost of delivering quality care.
“Additional funding must translate into a stronger general practice workforce and better access to care, rather than simply placing more demands on already stretched practices.”
GenPro has consistently called for a significant increase in general practice funding, including a 30 per cent increase over three years, alongside an independent mechanism to adjust funding for changes in the cost of providing care.
These and other recommendations are in Seven Steps to Restore General Practice, a practical roadmap for ensuring patients can access quality primary care when and where they need it.
Dr Chambers encouraged all political parties to recognise the importance of adequately funding general practice as they set out their health policies ahead of the election.