Budget 2024

Health economist Peter Huskinson analyses the Budget’s real-terms health spend per person and how this compares to previous years 

Government ministers are rushing for cover in the wake of widespread criticism of the Budget’s failure to deliver on an election promise of funding for 13 cancer drugs

Budget 2024: The Government’s $3.1 billion increase in Vote Health in Budget 2024 obscures the fact that most of it has already been earmarked for settling Holidays Act claims, according to University of Auckland professor of health policy Tim Tenbensel

Budget 2024: The Government’s decision to axe free prescriptions in Budget 2024 rankles academic and specialist GP Ben Gray.

The lack of additional investment in New Zealand’s medicines budget, especially the failure to announce the funding of 13 cancer-drug treatments promised before the election is extremely disappointing

Budget 2024: Te Awamutu pharmacy owner Gemma Perry thinks every pharmacist in New Zealand will be feeling “pretty gutted” to hear the Government is bringing back the $5 Prescription fee on 1 July

Budget 2024: Aside from a glaring hole where new funding for Pacific providers should be, there are no surprises in the Vote Health section of the 2024 Budget, says public health academic Sir Collin Tukuitonga

Budget 2024: Health economist Paula Lorgelly says many Kiwis who were expecting more funding for new cancer drugs and for Pharmac will be sadly disappointed by Budget 2024, which she sees as underwhelming. 

Health will get a significant funding boost of $16.68 billion across three Budgets as part of our plan to invest in frontline services such as emergency departments, primary care, medicines and public health to ensure New Zealanders can get the healthcare they deserve, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says