The New Zealand government has ceased funding free telehealth services, including those related to COVID-19, as healthcare providers have largely returned to offering in-person services following the end of the pandemic. This shift marks a significant change from the widespread adoption of telehealth during the pandemic, reflecting a broader trend towards traditional healthcare delivery methods.
A recent report by Te Tāhū Hauora (Health Quality & Safety Commission) assessed the quality and safety of telehealth services and found that their popularity is declining. Despite a surge in telehealth use globally during the pandemic, it never gained substantial traction in New Zealand. The report highlighted that in primary care, telehealth appointments never exceeded 20% and fell to just 8% last year.
In the outpatient sector, telehealth services peaked at 25% of appointments in early 2020, which was around 90,000 virtual appointments compared to 260,000 in-person visits.
By late 2021, video telehealth appointments had dropped significantly to about 7,400, while in-person appointments remained high at 476,000. These figures illustrate the limited role telehealth has played in the New Zealand healthcare system compared to traditional methods.
The report identified several barriers to the adoption of telehealth, such as limited clinician capability, insufficient resources, and a lack of proper equipment. Te Tāhū Hauora concluded that telehealth has not yet proven to be a sustainable solution for accessing care and emphasized the need for a better understanding of its suitability for different patient needs, as well as addressing challenges in its implementation.
The cut in telehealth funding comes amid broader changes in the government’s COVID-19 response and cuts to digital health funding. Ruth Large of the NZ Telehealth Forum noted that, while private telehealth providers are experiencing growth, many public sector providers are struggling to maintain momentum.
The government has also recalled $200 million intended for digital health projects, including the Hira programme, which is under review for future implementation.
