4,300 surgeries canceled as NZ doctors protest "broken" health system

Senior doctors across New Zealand went on a 24-hour nationwide strike on Thursday, protesting critical staff shortages and poor working conditions. It involves around 5,500 members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS), which has led to the cancellation of around 4,300 planned surgeries and specialist appointments nationwide.

Doctors say the strike is not about money but fixing a broken health system. “We’ve got vacant jobs that we’re not allowed to advertise,” said Dr Andrew Davies, a respiratory and sleep physician in Wellington.

Dr Davies said it takes months to fill roles and that even on regular days, many clinics remain empty due to understaffing. He added that the strike will result in 20 per cent of the week's work being lost, but in some departments, it consistently amounts to 20 per cent every week due to staff shortages.


Outside Auckland City Hospital, emergency care specialist Dr Sylvia Boys compared the situation with their neighbors: “Under our current pay structure, we can't attract people from overseas, when Australia pays 67% more.” She said some regions are experiencing up to 40% staff shortages, which delays patient care and costs more in the long run.

Some patients also supported the protest. One man, waiting inside Auckland City Hospital, said, “The hospital is sicker than me.”

Dr. Sharon Pattison, a medical oncologist, mentioned that delays in treatment often occur because people wait until they are very ill before seeking help. She added that the cancer treatment timeline target does not reflect the full delays, such as waiting weeks for a biopsy or a scan report.

However, the government criticized the strike. Health Minister Simeon Brown said the medical union rejected an updated offer without showing it to members. The offer included a $25,000 bonus for those moving to hard-to-staff areas.

Despite the strike, care continued inside hospitals for emergencies. Junior doctors and some specialists remained on duty to provide treatment.