Benson-Pope David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Benson-Pope David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:607;Page:5036] 
3.  
DAVID BENSON-POPE (NZ Labour—Dunedin South) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education) 
: What is the Government doing to ensure the tertiary education system can meet the needs of the medical workforce? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education)) 
: 
 The cap on funded medical students will increase from 285 full-time students to 325 per year coming into effect in the next academic year. That will significantly boost New Zealand’s medical practitioner workforce. In particular we intend to promote the areas of general practice and mental health. We need more people in those two areas as we implement the primary health-care strategy and continue implementing the Mental Health Commission’s blueprint. The increase will cost the Government about $4.8 million per annum when it is fully implemented and the extra places will be shared equally between Otago and Auckland. 
David Benson-Pope 
: What previous consideration has been given to raising the cap on funded medical students? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The enrolment cap has not changed since 1981. The Health Workforce Advisory Committee recently noted that in 1991 reforms had rejected a developmental approach to the health workforce as “being an aspect of provider capture and an unnecessary interference by the State in the marketplace.” A request was made to the then Minister of Health to raise the cap on funded medical students in 1997. It was however considered as premature to raise the cap according to Mr Bill English—perhaps another example of his inaction for which he is in trouble with his own caucus. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Given that New Zealand is competing in an international market for medical graduates how will primary health organisations which take away clinical governance from general practitioners and cap the co-payments they can charge attract trained general practitioners to bother to stay in New Zealand—they will not? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I understand that the member is wrong on both counts. But as the person responsible for tertiary education I applaud the Minister of Health for having a development plan for the health workforce. That was not there in the 1990s and the problems we face now are a result of the previous National Government. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked in respect of competing in the international marketplace how that would help doctors to remain here— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister started off by saying that the member was wrong on both counts. That was in my view a direct answer to the question. The member might not agree with it but that is how questions go. 
Sue Kedgley 
: When will the Government reduce the $9000-a-year fees that medical students currently pay which result in an astonishing high average cost of $70000 for graduating medical students and is driving them to seek higher-paying positions overseas? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: For all students of course costs are lower because of such policies as paying no interest on loans. But I think the member obviously has a point that is shared across Parliament. There are some students—vets doctors and perhaps dentists as well—for whom we have halved the fees that were set by the previous National Government. So in addition to the measures we have already taken we will look at the issues of scholarships and bonding around this particular Budget and will be reviewing student support. We will have a discussion paper out around the middle of the year to look at those issues.