The medical school was being proposed as part of a strategic alliance between the University of Waikato and the Waikato District Health Board.
The Waikato Medical School would be a community-engaged, graduate-entry medical school based in the Waikato and at regional clinical education sites in 12-15 locations throughout the central North Island.
RHANZ chief executive Michelle Thompson said ensuring there were appropriate numbers of health professionals in rural communities was a top priority for all 43 RHANZ members.
“We know that there is already a serious shortfall of rural health and social services professionals in New Zealand and there is currently a bulge among those employed nearing retirement age,” Thompson said.
“A more stable and sufficient workforce will enable rural people to access services closer to home – a central plank of the NZ Health Strategy – and will help overcome barriers to seeking healthcare, both acute and preventative,” she said.
RHANZ council member, Dr Chris Henry, a rural GP in Kaikoura, said international evidence showed taking students from rural backgrounds and training them in the rural communities in which they will later serve, is an effective recruitment and retention strategy for rural health professionals.
“It also provides a great opportunity for community groups to become involved in the training and support of their health professionals, which in turn helps build long-term trusting relationships between health providers and their communities,” he said.
“RHANZ members have long supported this ‘pipeline approach’ to health professional education and training and we congratulate the University of Waikato and the Waikato District Health Board for their bold proposal.
“Government is still considering the proposal and, if accepted, it will be vital to ensure that rural primary health care providers and rural communities are consulted in the next phase,” Henry said.
