MMI QB Med NZ 14 Ans
New Zealand Specific Healthcare Question 14
Compare health care provision in New Zealand and Australia?
Excellent Answer​​
In New Zealand, the public healthcare system is funded by the taxpayer, Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and various other government entities. In contrast, the Australian Medicare system is entirely taxpayer-funded.
Both countries provide a variety of free and partially subsidized services to the public, depending on the patient’s citizenship, age, and income. These include free treatment in a public hospital, subsidized visits to GP in many regions, full or partial prescription subsidy and no charge for some diagnostic testing, e.g. blood tests.
Australia and New Zealand both have reciprocal agreements for subsidized emergency healthcare or free public hospital emergency treatment.
Maternity care is vastly different between the two countries. In New Zealand, a woman will select her lead maternity carer (LMC) – usually, a midwife and they will coordinate all of her care thrrroughout her pregnancy and for the first weeks after birth. In Australia, women do not have a LMC. Instead, they will see whichever midwife is present at the hospital for her respective appointment. Australia’s maternity lacks the continuity of care, that is seen in New Zealand.
Dental care varies markedly between Australia and New Zealand. In New Zealand, subsidy for dental care for adults is offered occasionally through community services cards. However, this is not common. In Australia, those on a low income and pensioners with a medicare concession card are eligible for free dental care.