Doctors Continue to Strike in Protest of Understaffing and Underfunding in New Zealand’s Health System

Doctors in New Zealand are raising awareness about the dire staffing levels in the country’s healthcare system through a series of strikes. Members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) union, employed by Te Whatu Ora, went on their second strike on September 13th. The doctors argue that the health system has been in decline for over a decade due to inadequate infrastructure and woeful understaffing. Te Whatu Ora has acknowledged the impact of the strikes on patients and acknowledges the concerns about attracting and retaining doctors in the public system. It is essential to prioritize the health and safety of patients by addressing the systemic understaffing and underfunding issues within New Zealand’s health system.