National promises third medical school

Stuff reports:

National has confirmed the party will back a third medical school to boost doctor numbers.

That – along with adding 50 training places across Auckland and Otago’s schools – will mean an extra 220 doctors graduating each year by 2030, party leader Christopher Luxon said.

He announced the measures at the University of Waikato on Wednesday morning.

Capital costs to set up the Waikato med school are expected to be about $380m, a statement said, with the Crown contributing up to $280 million (pending a final business case) and Waikato University raising the rest.

We are desperately short of doctors, and unless we want to be totally reliant on importing doctors we need to train more ourselves.

Australia has 21 medical schools. We have just two – fewer than even Western Australia has.