General practice must be involved in design of free cervical screening | 4 September 2026
GenPro is calling for meaningful involvement in developing the contractual arrangements that will deliver free cervical screening to all eligible women aged 25 to 69, saying general practice cannot be expected to subsidise the Government’s policy.
General practices provide most of the cervical screening in New Zealand and therefore needs to be involved in designing a funding and contracting model that creates a fair and successful programme.
“We welcome the Government’s decision to remove the cost barrier to cervical screening for eligible women,” says GenPro Chair Dr Chambers says. “It gives New Zealand an important opportunity to increase participation in screening and, alongside HPV vaccination, move closer to eliminating cervical cancer.
“But if screening is to be free for patients, the Government needs to ensure the service is properly funded for the general practices that deliver it.
“General practice cannot subsidise a free national screening programme. The contractual arrangements need to recognise the full cost of delivering the service, including staff time, administration, chasing up appointments, and clinical capacity required.”
Dr Chambers says GenPro should be directly involved in developing the contractual arrangements before they are finalised.
“General practice knows what’s required to deliver screening safely and effectively in communities across New Zealand,” he says. “GenPro represents the organisations that own and operate general practices, so it’s important we are at the table when contractual arrangements are developed.
“Getting the funding and contracting model right from the outset will be critical. If the model doesn’t cover the cost of providing the service, practices will effectively be asked to subsidise the Government’s policy. Free to the patient cannot mean subsidised by the practice.
“We want to work constructively with the Government to make this policy successful. But that starts with meaningful consultation with the practices that will be responsible for delivering it.
Early consultation on changes to funding and service delivery is a key part of GenPro’s Seven Steps to Restore General Practice.
“One of our Seven Steps is early, meaningful consultation on significant changes to funding, service design and primary healthcare policy,” he says.
“This ensures policy decisions are evidence-based and reflect both clinical outcomes and the financial sustainability of general practice.
“Bringing frontline general practice into the design process will lead to better-informed policy, more practical implementation and better outcomes for patients,” Dr Chambers says.
GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout New Zealand. For more information visit www.genpro.org.nz
Angus Chambers 027 658 5143