New GP Funding Formula Neglects Ethnicity w The University of Otago’s Dr Gabrielle McDonald: 14 August, 2025

The government has recently announced changes to the national GP funding formula which aims to better resource GP offices across the country with funding that is more reflective of the communities they serve. 

This formula had previously not been changed for the last 20 years and has faced calls for substantial reform. A recent report found that the introduction of morbidity, social deprivation and ethnicity data into this formula would lead to more equitable health outcomes.

The government has included most of these recommendations, but has specifically excluded ethnicity data from this formula, even though the government has previously acknowledged that ethnicity does play a role in determining health outcomes if evidence exists. 

Producer Sanat talked to the University of Otago’s Dr Gabrielle McDonald on these changes to the formula and why it is so important to include ethnicity data.