Media Release 31 May 2023
New Zealand Hospice Face Funding Crisis
Why does the goverment refuse to adequately fund our Hospices? The hospice movement is facing an escalating financial crisis because the government continually refuses to fully fund palliative care.
Palliative care is not seen as an essential or core health service by the government. In contrast doctors killing patients with a lethal injection or assisting their patients in suicide in accordance with the End of Life Choice Act is considered an essential health service with unlimited funding. Right to Life asks the government, why is this?
There are 33 hospices in New Zealand. In the 2021-22 financial year it cost the hospice movement $186 million to provide free hospice care in New Zealand. This was an increase of $11.2 million from 2021.
The government provides through the medium of contracts with