No national fan but this might be the only decent ideas to come out of this party imo. Not enough for me to vote for them but man I wish labour would stop letting Auckland and Otago bullshit their way through securing their duopoly at the expense of our countries medical system.
Of course, the plan to fund a new medical school is sketchy at best. Medicine is obviously underfunded already, perhaps I’d hear an argument that the money would be better spent increasing wages for our existing doctors. That said, I’m of the opinion a new medical school couldn’t hurt us.
My initial reaction is that this must be good!
But I do have questions. Are our current schools full?
If so, do we have 220 more applicants every year that can meet the high entry standard?
If so, how do we keep doctors in NZ once they graduate?
I’m on the same page … Considering they’ll get paid(and treated) like dirt, is it really worth it?
Is this part of a multi pronged initiative or are we just gonna keep propping up Aussies health system, like we do with our teachers
We just don’t have the money to pay doctors and nurses what Australia pays them. Our best bet is to get some deal where they agree to work here for some years after they graduate in exchange for the education.
You’d think people would have some degree of loyalty to their own country but apparently not. The almighty buck rules and they are happy to take the training they got and go make the big buck overseas while they watch the country struggle.
My understanding is that yes, there is the demand. The issue is money, Auckland and Otago want the money that would go to a new med school to instead increase their own capacity. Opening a new med school is certainly expensive but is a better solution in the long run, in my opinion.
Keeping the doctors is the other side of the coin, to which I don’t have a great answer other than, unfortunately, more money.