The Immigration Minister is expecting thousands of people to arrive on our shores as a result of immigration changes in the healthcare sector.

32 new health jobs have been added to the Straight to Residency pathway on the Green List.

They include dentists, paramedics, optometrists and pharmacists.

Immigration Minister Michael Wood told Tim Dower earlier this morning that some of these roles hadn't had a lot of advocacy previously, but after sitting down with the sector, they've been added.

National Health spokesperson, Dr Shane Reti, heard the Minister's comments and called Kerre Woodham Mornings to refute those claims.

Reti says Michael Wood is blatantly wrong, clearly out of touch and two documents attest to that.

"First of all an OIA from February 2022, a year ago, that shows the Ministry of Health requesting that key health roles such as dentists, pharmacists, physios and social workers be added to the green list.

"Then if we go a year further back than that, a letter from Keriana Brooking on behalf of all DHBs to the minister and to MBIE saying that if the immigration settings were not changed we would not quote 'avert a health crisis.'"

LISTEN ABOVE

The Immigration Minister is expecting thousands of people to arrive on our shores as a result of immigration changes in the healthcare sector.
32 new health jobs have been added to the Straight to Residency pathway on the Green List.
They include dentists, paramedics, optometrists and pharmacists.
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/michael-wood-immigration-minister-expects-thousands-of-people-to-arrive-as-a-result-of-changes-in-the-healthcare-sector/">Immigration Minister Michael Wood</a> told Tim Dower earlier this morning that some of these roles hadn't had a lot of advocacy previously, but after sitting down with the sector, they've been added.
National Health spokesperson, Dr Shane Reti, heard the Minister's comments and called Kerre Woodham Mornings to refute those claims.
Reti says Michael Wood is blatantly wrong, clearly out of touch and two documents attest to that.
"First of all an OIA from February 2022, a year ago, that shows the Ministry of Health requesting that key health roles such as dentists, pharmacists, physios and social workers be added to the green list.
"Then if we go a year further back than that, a letter from Keriana Brooking on behalf of all DHBs to the minister and to MBIE saying that if the immigration settings were not changed we would not quote 'avert a health crisis.'"
LISTEN ABOVE

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