The party revealed its health policy this morning, which also included a funding boost for Pharmac, having elective surgeries performed within four months, and creating a new cancer agency.
Announcing the policy, National health spokesman Dr Shane Reti said even before Covid-19’s emergence, there were cracks in the health system.
''Access to quality healthcare has slid backwards under Labour. Waiting times are increasing and the number of elective surgeries has decreased.
''Every single health target has gotten worse over their term and Kiwis are missing out on the care they deserve.''
The policy included commitments to boosting maternity care in the South, something that has been a hot topic ever since the Lumsden Maternity Centre was closed last year.
The decision meant women in the area had to travel further to have their babies.
National's policy was to guarantee three days' post-natal stay for mothers and their babies, re-establish the birthing unit at Lumsden, and establish a birthing unit at Wanaka.
Each centre was expected to cost $1 million over four years.
National also said it would fully fund a primary care social worker-type navigator for every general practice to increase frontline health services, and start a request for proposal process to establish a third graduate entry medical school, focused on retaining general practitioners in rural areas.
