Concerns are mounting among GPs as patients skip appointments and medicine stocks tighten, highlighting the real-world strain caused by soaring fuel prices.
Luke Bradford of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners made clear that supply shortages are “the biggest nuisance,” with doctors frequently given little warning before medications become unavailable. The result is a system forced into reactive mode, where patients must be shifted onto alternative treatments whenever possible.
Pharmac acknowledged the risks, underscoring just how fragile essential services can become when global events spiral. It said it is closely monitoring supply pressures tied to the crisis.
While policymakers often focus on broad economic narratives, the immediate burden is falling on ordinary patients. Rising travel costs are making it harder for people to access care, even as doctors themselves largely continue working despite higher petrol prices.
“Of course, petrol has gone up massively, but I don’t think there are genuine GPs who think they can’t drive to work through the cost of petrol.”
Dr Jo Scott-Jones, a rural GP serving Ōpōtiki and Tokoroa and clinical director for the Pinnacle Midlands Health Network, confirmed that rising costs are already discouraging rural patients from attending GP and specialist appointments. Even when people try to prioritise their health, financial pressure is clearly influencing decisions.
Rather than expanding costly systems, Scott-Jones pointed to a practical solution that gained traction during COVID: virtual consultations. He argued hospitals should strengthen telehealth outreach, allowing more patients to receive care without the added burden of travel.
While in-person examinations remain necessary in some cases, many follow-ups, including post-operative care could “very easily be done via telehealth.”
He outlined a model where patients could attend local GP clinics for virtual hospital appointments, supported by nurses who can carry out basic checks like blood pressur
“We would have a session a week … offering a virtual out-patient service for the hospital, and they could timetable patients to come into the surgery in Ōpōtiki, rather than making the trip to Whakatane or Tauranga,” he said.
Against this backdrop, the government has introduced targeted relief measures, announcing last month that nearly 150,000 families would receive an extra $50 a week to offset petrol costs. It also confirmed on Thursday a temporary 30% increase in the mileage rate for home and community support workers.