The statement by Minister of Health, Hon Tony Ryall for not charging the patients at DHBs for the laboratory services directed by private specialists has been appreciated by the NZMA.

The head of NZMA, Dr. Peter Foley said that the organization has been against the practice of charging the patients under DHBs’ separately.

Dr. Foley said that the country of 4.4 million people requires consistency in the services so that the patients, regardless of their residing DHB, get the same level of funded support. Dr. Foley termed the decision taken by the ministry as “significant in this regard”.

The policy which was followed earlier did not take into account any national policy and it “unfairly disadvantaged” the patients to access treatments from private specialists, added Dr. Foley.

Due to this, people either did not get the required test done or they were forced to go to the unacceptably crowded public institution.

The NZMA said that it is in support of this decision and it also welcomes the symbiotic role of private and public health providers.