14 May 2018

Senior doctors welcome Government decision ruling out PPP for Dunedin

“Senior doctors and dentists will be pleased the Government is taking a sensible approach to the Dunedin Hospital rebuild by ruling out private investment,” says Angela Belich, Deputy Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

She was commenting on news that Health Minister David Clark sought – and was granted - Cabinet dispensation to rule out a public-private partnership for the Dunedin Hospital rebuild (https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/health/cabinet-dispensation-required-reject-partnership-model).

“Public-private partnerships don’t have a great track record overseas, as the Minister notes,” says Ms Belich.

“Private partners are motivated by the need to get a return on their investment and maximise their profits, which would mean less money available for patient services.

“We’re talking here about a public hospital, which is an essential service for people living in the southern region and also a critical part of the Government’s investment in publicly-funded health, and we think the Health Minister and Cabinet have made the right call.”

ENDS

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