Senior Doctors’ Strike to Leave Over 13,000 Patients Waiting as Talks Collapse

Health New Zealand has warned that more than 13,000 patients will be left without treatment next week as senior doctors, represented by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) union, walk away from the bargaining table and press ahead with strike action.

The union’s decision comes despite Health New Zealand tabling an updated pay offer earlier this week, which would have cost taxpayers more than $160 million over a 16-month term for around 5,500 senior doctors nationwide. Negotiations have dragged on for more than a year, with the ASMS rejecting both binding arbitration and the most recent package.

Impact on Patients

The looming 48-hour strike is expected to significantly disrupt services across the country. Based on the impact of the last industrial action, Health New Zealand estimates that patient care will be postponed for:

• 1,800 elective procedures including hip, knee, and cataract surgeries.

• 3,600 first specialist assessments.

• 7,000 follow-up appointments.

• 800 outpatient procedures.

Officials say the strike will not only affect those scheduled for surgery and consultations but will also add pressure to already stretched waiting lists, further delaying thousands who have been waiting months for treatment.

Pay and Conditions Under Scrutiny

The government has stressed that senior doctors are already among New Zealand’s highest-paid public servants. According to Health New Zealand, the average total remuneration for these specialists is $343,500, including overtime and allowances.

In addition to high salaries, senior doctors receive generous non-salary benefits such as:

• Six weeks’ annual leave.

• Two weeks’ paid leave each year for professional development, training, and conferences.

• A fully paid three-month sabbatical every six years.

• Reimbursement for professional licences, college memberships, and insurance.

Critics argue that with many specialists also supplementing their incomes through private practice, the decision to strike puts politics before patients.

Government’s Position vs. Union’s Stance

Health New Zealand says it has remained committed to bargaining in good faith, offering a package that balances fair pay with fiscal responsibility. The refusal by the ASMS to enter arbitration is being painted by officials as a deliberate choice to escalate industrial action rather than resolve the standoff.

“The decision to strike is a choice,” a spokesperson for Health New Zealand said. “Some of the most well-paid public servants in the country are walking away from patients and cancelling care at a time when waiting lists are already too long.”

The ASMS, however, maintains that the current pay structure has failed to keep pace with inflation and international salaries, contributing to workforce shortages and burnout. The union has argued that fairer pay is necessary to retain medical talent in New Zealand and prevent an exodus of specialists to Australia and other countries offering higher remuneration.

What Happens Next

Unless negotiations are urgently revived, the 48-hour strike is set to go ahead, compounding stress across the health system. Patients awaiting elective surgeries, routine check-ups, and specialist care are being advised to expect cancellations or rescheduling.

Observers note that this dispute highlights a deeper tension within the healthcare system: how to fairly compensate highly skilled professionals while managing a publicly funded health budget already under pressure. The government faces a delicate balancing act between fiscal prudence and ensuring the sustainability of the medical workforce.