A review confirms better access to care should be a key priority.
Health New Zealand's released a Clinical Quality and Safety Review using data from the past decade.
It reveals the number of people waiting more than four months to see a specialist tripled between 2020 and 2023.
Royal College of GPs Medical Director Luke Bradford told Mike Hosking fewer people are also choosing not to access care, especially since Covid.
He's concerned there's been a drop off in immunisations and cancer screenings.
However, there is a belief the quality of care is getting better despite taking longer to access it.
Bradford says there's been a decrease in surgical complications and better experiences had by patients in the system.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Mike Hosking Breakfast