NZ Ministry of Health Web Page
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Eligibility for Publicly Funded Health and Disability Services

Visiting a Doctor


The local doctor or general practitioner (GP) is the important first contact for New Zealanders if they get sick. It is good practice to think about your choices early and find where a suitable GP is before you get sick.

Doctor’s practices and medical centres are privately owned, and are usually not located in a hospital.

If necessary your doctor may refer you onto a hospital or specialist doctor for further assessment and diagnosis. If you are eligible for publicly funded health and disability services, and referrals are made though the public system you will not be charged. If you choose to go to a private specialist you will be charged.

If your doctor thinks blood or laboratory tests are required you may be referred to a medical laboratory. An eligible person will not be charged for these services.

If you become acutely ill and need urgent attention, you may go to a public hospital, but if you are not eligible for publicly funded services, you will be charged a fee. If you have not been to that hospital before, it may help you if you take evidence of being eligible for publicly funded services.

If you need an ambulance to take you to hospital, dial 111 and ask for ambulance.

Choosing a doctor


In New Zealand you can choose the doctor or medical centre that you visit. A list of medical centres, and their consultation fees is found on District Health Board websites.

Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) are groups of doctors, nurses and other people trained and skilled in health who are working together to provide a better health service for you and your family. The government provides higher subsidies for people who have enrolled with a PHO.

To join a PHO, ask the doctor or medical center that you have chosen whether they are aligned to a PHO. If they are, they will ask you to complete an enrolment form.

Fees


Doctors can set their own fees, so the standard consultation fee can vary. If you are eligible for publicly funded health and disability services and have joined a PHO, you will pay a lower consultation fee than if you are not enrolled with a PHO.

For children under six years old, the cost is usually lower. Children aged 6 to 17 years may be charged more than younger children.

Eligible children can also get some free health checks in the early years of life.

For more information see Primary Health Care and Primary Health Organisations (PHOs)

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Page last updated: 3 February 2009