Healthcare

There are good health and disability services in New Zealand, including doctors, pharmacies and hospitals.  Publicly funded health services in New Zealand are available to migrants who hold a visa which entitles them to live continuously in New Zealand for 2 years or more. For more information about eligibility criteria, contact the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

Government funding of health services means that eligible people may receive free inpatient and outpatient public hospital services, subsidies on prescription items and a range of support services for people with disabilities in the community.  Your General Practitioner (GP) is usually the first person you should contact if you require medical advice or diagnosis.  GPs operate private businesses and so are able to set their own fees for consultations and other services.

However, the Government provides a subsidy to reduce the cost of GP visits and prescriptions.  The GP or the pharmacist claims subsidies from the Government so the effect for the patient is a lower fee. 

In some areas, local GPs also operate special accident and emergency clinics which are open late and usually have a late night pharamacy in the vicinity for urgent prescriptions or medical supplies. Fees are traditionally higher at these clinics and payment for a consultation is usually made up front before you see a medical professional.

The majority of essential health care services are provided free through the public health system (excluding dentistry and optometry). However, most hospital doctors (specialists) can only been seen after referral from your local GP.  If you are referred to a specialist or hospital you can choose to go publicly or privately.

To find a GP, emergency services and other healthcare providers in your area check the front of your local New Zealand telephone book or visit www.moh.govt.nz  

Accidents & Health Insurance

If you are injured in New Zealand, you may need the help of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) - New Zealand's accident compensation scheme.

In New Zealand, you cannot sue anyone for compensatory damages if you are injured. Instead ACC helps pay for your care - and that means paying towards the cost of your treatment and helping in your recovery.

You still need to purchase your own travel and medical insurance because ACC does not cover everything. ACC only covers treatment and rehabilitation in New Zealand, and usually you must pay part of the cost yourself. If you have a serious injury, with long-term effects, you may also be eligible to be assessed for lump-sum compensation once the injury is stable.

The ACC does not pay any additional costs resulting from an accident, for example delayed or curtailed travel costs, travel back to your home country, treatment at home and loss of income in your home country.

We strongly advise you to arrange your own health insurance. New Zealand's public and private medical/hospital facilities provide a high standard of treatment and service, which, regardless of your eligibility, is free if your injury is the result of an accident.

For more information visit www.acc.co.nz

If you are bringing into New Zealand a quantity of medication, you should carry a doctor's certificate to avoid possible problems with New Zealand Customs. Doctor's prescriptions are needed to obtain certain drugs in New Zealand.

Source: www.newzealand.com