ProCare: New Zealand can lead the world – but only if it backs primary care
New Zealand has the opportunity to be a leading small nation in healthcare, but only if it invests in primary care as the foundation of the system.
Our health system needs a reset, and it starts with primary care; which is why ProCare’s 2026 Election Manifesto sets out a clear plan to improve access, strengthen the workforce, and build a healthcare system that is fit for the future.
ProCare, New Zealand’s largest primary care Network, which supports more than 640,000 patients across 131 general practices, says the health system is under increasing strain – while the solutions are well understood.
Bindi Norwell Group CEO at ProCare says: “New Zealand has the opportunity to be a leading small nation in healthcare, but right now too many people are struggling to access timely care.
“General practices are under pressure, clinicians are stretched, and hospitals are carrying demand they were never designed for. We know that investing in primary care is the most effective way to address this.”
ProCare’s manifesto sets out five priorities:
A clear, long-term strategy for healthcare
Better co-ordinated care in the community to keep people well and out of hospital
Investing in and expanding the primary care workforce
A more streamlined, tech-enabled system to improve access and experience of care
Rebuilding trust across the healthcare system.
ProCare says a stronger focus on community-based care will improve access and reduce pressure on hospitals.
“The evidence is clear - for every $1 invested in primary care, we can save between $13 and $15 in secondary care,” says Norwell.
“Shifting care into communities, supporting our workforce, and reducing unnecessary bureaucracy will deliver better outcomes for patients and better value for taxpayers,” she continues.
The manifesto also calls for a bipartisan, long-term health strategy and sustained investment in general practice to ensure it can meet growing and increasingly complex demand.
“We can’t continue to take a short-term approach to healthcare,” Norwell says.
“This is about building a system that keeps people well, supports clinicians, and is fit for the future,” she concludes.