New Zealand to launch new 24/7 telehealth

Healthcare IT News March 6, 2025
Adam Ang

This comes after pulling funding for some telehealth services amid receding uptake and cost-cutting.

New Zealand Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced a new 24/7 telehealth service to expand access to primary care amid the overcrowding of emergency departments.

The government will invest in the new service, which is expected to “provide all New Zealanders with better access to video consultations with New Zealand-registered clinicians, such as GPs and nurse practitioners.”

It will also enable GPs and nurses to issue prescriptions and make referrals for laboratory tests.

According to Te Whatu Ora, the 24/7 telehealth service is set for launch in July.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Minister Brown revealed the new digital healthcare service alongside the announcement of...