Private providers capture the bulk of recent public health funding increase

A coalition of health-worker unions and the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research released a study indicating that 80% of the $3 billion boost in public health funding over the past three years was directed to private-sector providers, amounting to $2.4 billion. Public delivery through Health NZ and ACC grew by just $600 million, from $14 billion to $14.6 billion. The data, drawn from Health NZ and ACC, show rising public money flowing to entities owned by asset managers, private-equity funds and multinational corporations, including general practices, private hospitals, imaging services and aged-care facilities.

The report argues this trend reflects a rapid acceleration of privatisation, raising concerns that public dollars are being used to service private debt and generate investor returns. Health Minister Simeon Brown’s office declined comment on the union-commissioned analysis but noted that Health NZ performed over 43,800 outsourced elective procedures in 2025/26, reducing waiting lists.