Primary care medical pathway

In March, the Minister of Health announced a number of initiatives to support an increase in timely access to primary care for all New Zealanders, including supporting more doctors and nurses into the primary care workforce.

More locally trained doctors in primary care - Beehive.govt.nz (external link)

One of those initiatives included the development of a new domestic primary care pathway to support New Zealand medical graduates to train and work in general practice and other eligible primary care settings. From 2026, the pathway will provide up to 50 funded placements each year. This is part of the Government’s commitment to grow and retain more doctors in primary care, helping communities access timely GP appointments.

The pathway is being designed with strong input from the sector. In May, we hosted a national workshop with more than 30 representatives from primary care, training, regulation, unions and districts, where we tested ideas and agreed the key building blocks.

We have also established a Primary Care Medical Training Pathway Reference Group.This group brings together GPs, training directors, unions, regulators, Hauora Māori, rural representatives and others, and provides advice, insights and connections to ensure the pathway works for those delivering and training in it.

To help us understand the potential interest from primary care employers we are asking for expressions of interest (EOIs) from general practices who may want to host placements from 2026.

This is an initial indication of interest and more information will be available in the coming months to help support practice decisions to commit to a placement. That will include details on the required criteria, funding and the support that will be available for practices to provide training supervision and pastoral care for doctors in training.

Hosting a trainee is an opportunity to:

• grow the next generation of GPs and primary care doctors
• support workforce sustainability in your community
• build stronger links with training programmes and districts.

You can register your interest to support the placement of a graduate doctor here:

Provision of Pre-vocational medical training in Primary Care Practices (external link)

We would appreciate it if you could signal your initial interest by Friday 26 September.

If you have any questions, please email workforce@tewhatuora.govt.nz.