Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

ProCare welcomes the Medical Council’s decision to recognise overseas-trained doctors from Chile, Croatia, and Luxembourg as part of the “Comparable Health System pathway”. Alongside the fast-track registration for GPs from the USA, Canada, and Singapore, this will deliver a much-needed boost to general practices across Aotearoa who are facing a significant GP shortage.

The decision means ProCare will be better placed to support its primary care network to recruit offshore GPs; further helping to ease workforce pressure and improve access to care for communities.

Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare, says the organisation is ready to support practices to take full advantage of the change.

“We know our practices are under pressure and this change gives us a practical way to bring in skilled clinicians faster,” says Norwell.

Under the changes, GPs from the United States, Canada and Singapore will have their registration applications processed within two months, while specialists from countries such as the UK, Ireland and Australia will benefit from a fast-tracked 20-day assessment process. Japan and South Korea were added to the list in February 2025.

“At ProCare, we are deeply committed to investing in the primary care workforce. We’ve long advocated for practical solutions that support our network and improve health outcomes for our communities. This announcement aligns with that vision.”

Earlier this month, ProCare became an Immigration NZ Accredited Employer, allowing it to directly support practices with international recruitment and immigration processes.

“We’re actively investing in solutions for primary care that make a difference,” says Norwell. “Our investment includes tailored support for general practice teams, leadership development, and tools to improve retention and resilience. We’re committed to building a strong, sustainable workforce that delivers better health outcomes for all New Zealanders.”

ProCare will continue working closely with its network and partners to ensure overseas-trained doctors are welcomed, supported, and integrated into the communities where they’re needed most.

Learn about ProCare's Investment in Workforce: https://www.procare.co.nz/about-us/investment-in-workforce/

About ProCare

IHC says the cost-of-living crisis is worsening an already serious situation for intellectually disabled New Zealanders and their families, many of whom have faced financial hardship for years.

As charities sound the alarm on families huddling in single rooms to stay warm, skipping meals, and borrowing to pay power bills, IHC Senior Advocate Shara Turner points out this level of struggle is nothing new for those living with intellectual disability, it’s long been the norm.

She says the IHC-funded Cost of Exclusion report, released last month, used older data and shows people with intellectual disabilities were living with significant financial stress five years ago.

“We are calling on the government and policy makers to adjust income support to reflect the true cost of disability and to recognise the long-term, cross-sector disadvantage disabled people experience.”

The Cost of Exclusion report paints a bleak picture:

People with an intellectual disability are twice as likely to live in hardship up to age 39 and almost three times as likely at ages 40 to 64, compared to the rest of the population.
Rates of severe hardship are double in young adulthood and triple in middle age.
Nearly half of intellectually disabled people cannot pay an unavoidable bill within a month without borrowing.
They are over four times more likely to go without a meal containing meat or a vegetarian equivalent.
They are more than twice as likely to feel cold due to heating costs.

“The current cost-of-living spike will have just added to the struggle. Stats NZ figures show electricity prices have increased by almost 9 percent and petrol by 15.5 percent in the last year. Social services have seen dramatic funding cuts and one provider told RNZ they are now supporting 800 fewer families than last year due to a $1.5 million drop in government funding.”

“It’s not a blip. We are looking at entrenched, generational poverty and targeted action is needed to change the outcomes for some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable people.”

IHC’s research, which includes powerful interviews with caregivers, offers insight into the systemic barriers that push families into poverty and keep them there. One mother described the toll:

“I ended up working full-time for three years, which just about killed me… 50 hours a week plus 15 to 20 hours advocating for Simon. It was like running a small business just for his care.”

Another described how her child’s multiple diagnoses made returning to work impossible for years, significantly eroding their family’s financial stability.