A Maori physician says the rise in prescription charges means whanau will be forced to choose between spending on medicines and putting food on the table.
From January 2013, the cost of a prescription will increase from $3 to $5 up to a maximum of 20 items a year. Prescriptions for children under six years old will remain free.
George Laking, an oncologist of Te Whakatohea, says savings are being made in the wrong area of health and the poorest people in New Zealand will have to make difficult choices.
Dr Laking says if he had to pick one part of the health sector to save money, he would avoid an area which impacts on access to medicines.
He says if people do not have a lot of discretionary money, they have to choose how to spend it.
