More Doctors, Faster Access to Doctors

More New Zealand-trained doctors in primary care, so you can see a GP faster.
More doctor training places at medical school every year to boost the workforce.
Overseas-trained doctors will be allowed to work in GP practices in your communities.
Additional funding for GP practices to take on more patients.
Increased numbers of urgent and after-hours clinics across the country, so you can see a doctor an hours’ drive from wherever you live in NZ.
A new medical school at Waikato University to train more doctors and nurses for community and rural practices.

More Nurses, More Training, Better Care

Hiring more nurses - more than 2000 have been added to the frontline since taking office.
Increasing nurse practitioner training places to 120 by 2026, providing faster, better care.
Fast-tracking tertiary education for 120 primary care nurses annually, easing pressure on hospitals.
Incentives for GP practices to recruit and support 400 graduate registered nurses annually to help reduce hospital pressures and improve access to care.
Easier transfer from hospital to aged care, so elderly patients get better care in the community, freeing up beds in hospital for others.

Multi-Million Boost for Cancer Treatments and Better Access to Medicines

$604 million boost to Pharmac to improve access to life-saving treatments.
This has already delivered 27 new cancer treatments and 23 additional medicines, helping Kiwis access cutting-edge therapies.
Allowing 12 month prescriptions for your regular medication, saving you money and time going to the doctor

More Elective Surgeries

Delivering more than 16,000 surgeries so far, for patients in need of hip, knee and cataract surgeries.
This will see thousands more operations to help reduce the waiting list and get people the care they deserve.

Lowering the Bowel Cancer Screening Age

Dropping the screening age from 60 to 58, giving 122,000 Kiwis access to life-saving early detection – the first step to aligning with Australia.
This will prevent 771 bowel cancers and 556 deaths over the next 25 years.
Lower screening ages will be announced as we boost our frontline team to deliver more services.

Better Digital Access to Healthcare

A new 24/7 digital health service that has delivered over 20,000 consultations with GPs over the phone or laptop since launch in July 2025
This means you can get prescriptions, lab test referrals and radiology online, making healthcare easier and more convenient to get when you need it.

Investment in Hospitals

Building new, modern hospitals in record time, in key communities where they are needed, like Nelson and Dunedin.
Extensive upgrade of hospitals and clinics across the country ensuring they’re safe, modern and fit for purpose.

“New Zealand needs a health system that puts patients first, and is relentlessly focused on delivering the care Kiwis need when they need it. Making that happen is a top priority for my Government.”

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon | Leader of the National Party