133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
23 October 2020
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
Dr Renoh Chalakkal
By email:
[FYI request #13877 email]
Ref:
H202007501
Dear Dr Renoh Chalakkal
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health (the Ministry) on 29 September 2020 for:
“1. How many registered General practitioners (GPs) are practicing in New Zealand?
2. How many registered optometrists are there in New Zealand?
3. How many among the total optometrists have the therapeutic prescribing license using
which they can prescribe drugs to their patients?
4. How many emergency departments (EDs) are currently there in whole New Zealand?
5. How many private eye care clinics are registered in New Zealand?
6. How many primary care clinics are registered in New Zealand?
7. What is the average number of GPs practicing in these primary care clinics?”
Information in response to each part of your request is as follows.
1. How many registered General practitioners (GPs) are practicing in New Zealand?
This part of your request is refused under section 18(d) of the Act, as the information is publicly
available in the register of doctors on the Medical Council of New Zealand website:
https://www.mcnz.org.nz/registration/register-of-doctors/.
2. How many registered optometrists are there in New Zealand?
3. How many among the total optometrists have the therapeutic prescribing license using which
they can prescribe drugs to their patients?
This part of your request is refused under section 18(g) of the Act, as the Ministry does not hold
this information. However, you may wish to refer to the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians
Board website who are the responsible authority. Their website is:
https://www.odob.health.nz/.
4. How many emergency departments (EDs) are currently there in whole New Zealand?
There are currently 26 emergency departments in New Zealand.
5. How many private eye care clinics are registered in New Zealand?
This part of your request is refused under section 18(g) of the Act, as the Ministry does not hold
this information. However, you may wish to approach the New Zealand Association of
Optometrists who may be able to assist with understanding registrations. Their website is:
https://www.nzao.co.nz/.
6. How many primary care clinics are registered in New Zealand?
The Ministry has interpreted this part of your request as the number of practices enrolled with a
Primary Health Organisation (PHO), as the Ministry does not hold a register of primary care
clinics. Accordingly, as at 1 September 2020, there are 947 enrolled practices in New Zealand
(ie, 947 practices affiliated with PHOs).
7. What is the average number of GPs practicing in these primary care clinics? As at March 2020, there is an average of 5.2 doctors per general practice. Please note that
some doctors work in more than one general practice.
Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website.
Yours sincerely
Clare Perry
Acting Deputy Director-General
Health System Improvement and Innovation
Page 2 of 2
