News release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

This article proposes a different approach to managing the health crisis, which is necessary and achievable. This cannot occur without the buy-in from health professionals who have decades of knowledge and experience. We propose that health needs to be understood as an investment in national productivity and wellbeing. Investment in health leads to substantial economic returns. For every dollar invested in health there is a return of nearly $5 to the economy overall. In this election year, we advocate for a cross-party agreement, insulated from electoral cycles, to provide a foundation for sustained investment and long-term planning. This needs to focus on strengthening access to general practitioner care, ensuring access to a clearly defined core package of publicly funded services and delivering measurable improvements in equity.