New Zealand has a serious problem: Māori and Pacific people, and people living in rural and provincial communities have worse health status and substantially limited access to health care. As the Health and Disability System Review report states, “people living in rural towns can have poorer health outcomes, including lower life expectancy, than people living in cities or surrounding rural areas,
an effect that is accentuated for rural Māori and disabled people.” These inequities and disparities have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the two existing medical schools produce high-quality doctors, only around 20% become general practitioners, 3% become psychiatrists, and almost none choose to serve these high needs populations. New Zealand currently relies on international medical graduates (IMGs) for its supply of doctors to a greater extent than any other OECD country. There are concerns around cultural competence of these overseas-trained doctors, and many of them do not stay long term in New Zealand. Why Waikato and why a New Zealand Graduate Entry Medical School? The Waikato region is booming, putting pressure on services that are already struggling to provide healthcare to a large geographical area with a high proportion of communities with high health needs, including Māori, Pacific, provincial and rural communities. The greatest shortages of doctors are in provincial and rural areas. The Midland region has 13% fewer doctors than the rest of the country. At the same time, there are many small and medium sized communities stretching from Northland to Southland across New Zealand in need of doctors with the skills and commitment to provide high-quality health care. The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that all coursework can be delivered online so that medical students can undertake their studies living and learning in or near their home communities. The University of Waikato has the expertise and commitment to help fill the gaps. Although based in Hamilton, there will be clinical education and training centres throughout New Zealand. The aim is to have half the graduates specialise as GPs, outside the main centres, and all graduates would train and work in local communities before going on to serve in them.
