Media release: GP data blind spot leaves New Zealand’s health system guessing
Wellington (Tuesday, 4 November 2025) - The New Zealand Initiative today releases a research note revealing how adding GP clinic data to government databases could transform healthcare outcomes while cutting costs.
The research note, “Better health through better data” by Adjunct Fellow Dr Prabani Wood, shows that while government can track hospital visits, prescriptions and even school attendance, it cannot see clearly what happens in GP clinics – where most healthcare occurs.
“We’re essentially flying blind when it comes to primary care,” said Dr Wood, who has more than 16 years’ experience as a GP. “Most health encounters happen in GP clinics, yet we have no systematic way to understand what works, for whom, or at what cost.”
Currently, government agencies share anonymised data through a secure system that helps track how education, housing and income affect health outcomes. But without GP data, policymakers cannot see whether people get care when they need it, whether treatments work, or which communities are missing out.
The report points to Canada’s success story. Since 2008, Canadian doctors have used a clinician-led data network to spot prescribing problems, identify gaps in chronic disease management, and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. The system has won international privacy awards.
“This isn’t about surveillance – it’s about learning,” Dr Wood emphasised. “When doctors can see patterns in their own practice, they make improvements that directly benefit patients. When policymakers understand what happens in communities, they can invest where it matters most.”
Privacy measures are included from the beginning. Data is anonymised, patients have the option to opt out, and each use requires approval and is recorded publicly.
Dr Wood recommends starting small with willing practices and giving GPs useful tools which allow them to easily reflect, for example, on their prescribing practices so that they can continue to improve the care they provide their patients. “Better data will not treat patients,” Dr Wood concluded. “But better data will help those who do.”
ENDS
Dr Prabani Wood is available for comment. To schedule an interview, please contact:
Jamuel Enriquez, Marketing and Communications Manager
E: jamuel.enriquez@nzinitiative.org.nz
P: 021 022 34451
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About The New Zealand Initiative
The New Zealand Initiative is an evidence-based think tank and research institute contributing to public policy discussion.
Supported by the nation’s leading visionaries, business leaders and political thinkers, we are committed to making New Zealand a better country for all its citizens with a world-class education system, affordable housing, a healthy environment, sound public finances and a stable currency.
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