The College represents members’ views with government and health sector organisations on issues relating to general practice, the health system and the health of New Zealanders.
College position statements are developed for issues of particular importance or in response to new developments. They are formed after reviewing recent literature, existing College documents and the position statements of other health organisations in New Zealand and overseas.
The College considers it unacceptable for female GPs to be paid less than male GPs for identical work requiring the same level of skill and time. As an employer, the College encourages general practice employers and GP employees to take responsibility for ensuring remuneration levels are appropriate.
Read our position statement on gender pay equity.
The College supports the use of telehealth and technology-based services where it assists GPs and rural hospital doctors to provide safe, quality health care, improve health equity and increase service efficiency. We issued a position statement on telehealth on 12 September 2017.
Read our position statement on telehealth
The College believes that general practice has a key role to play in raising awareness of the impacts of climate change on health, in social leadership and the promotion of appropriate lifestyle choices and in supporting health sector movement towards sustainable systems. We released a position statement in November 2016.
Read our position statement on climate change and sustainability
Around 5000 premature smoking related deaths still occur in New Zealand every year, both as a consequence of active smoking and through exposure to second hand smoke. In July 2012, the College released a series of position statements related to tobacco in New Zealand.
Read our position statement on tobacco
Pacific peoples have a higher death rate and a lower life expectancy than other ethnic groups, excluding Māori. We released a position statement on Pacific people's health in March 2012.
Read our position statement on Pacific people's health
In all countries, more socially disadvantaged groups have poorer health, greater exposure to health risks and poorer access to health services. We released a position statement about eliminating health inequities in February 2012.
Read our position statement on health equity
Around one quarter of doctors working in general practice are not vocationally registered, nor participating in vocational training. In September 2010, we released a position statement on vocational training.
Read our position statement on vocational training