Summarised by Centrist
Health Minister Simeon Brown has accused senior doctors of putting politics before patients as the medical union proceeds with strike action.
Speaking at the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists’ annual conference in Wellington, Brown said doctors had “crossed an ethical line” by walking off the job.
“Patients should never be collateral damage in disputes between management and unions,” he told delegates. He said Health NZ advised him that the upcoming strike would cancel more than 900 procedures and over 1300 specialist assessments.
The minister said the average salary for senior doctors was $325,000, and the government’s latest offer represented a $160 million pay increase. “No one disputes that doctors need to be recognised for the job you do, but New Zealanders also deserve a health system that works for them,” he said.
The union’s leadership rejected his comments, claiming Brown was using inaccurate figures and that its requests to restart negotiations had been ignored. Association executive director Sarah Dalton said the minister’s remarks were “offensive” to members and that “patients are collateral damage in a system every day that refuses to staff or resource services.”
Senior doctors are joining a nationwide “mega strike” scheduled for 23 October, involving more than 100,000 workers across health and education. Brown said the action would further disrupt services and urged union leaders to resume talks rather than strike again.
