New Zealand doctors have raised concerns over the Accident Compensation Corporation’s (ACC) plans to tighten medical certification processes, as the average time off work for injured patients continues to rise. Reported by RNZ
ACC is exploring prototype agreements with organisations that can deliver “effective improvements” and have “substantial reach into primary care.” Standardising medical certificates may be part of the plan.
Dr Angus Chambers, chair of GenPro and a Riccarton GP, urged caution over prescriptive guidelines. “Every case is different. GPs and nurse practitioners bring a unique understanding of the patient, and relationships matter. Guidelines may help, but prescription could undermine trust and clinical judgment,” he said.
Chambers also highlighted a lack of data on the current state of medical certificates. “It would be useful to know whether longer work absences are due to more severe injuries or difficulties accessing treatment,” he said.
ACC acting chief clinical officer Dr Dilky Rasiah said the aim is not simply to reduce the number or duration of certificates but to ensure that certification accurately reflects the individual’s injury and recovery potential. “Primary care is critical in supporting better rehabilitation and return-to-work outcomes,” she said.
In the last financial year, ACC handled over two million new injury claims and spent $5 billion on treatment and rehabilitation services.
Dr Chambers said while GPs take their responsibilities seriously, ACC’s approach raised concerns. “Investing in another bureaucracy may not be the right way forward. It risks creating a system separate from general practice, which could make processes less effective,” he said.
GenPro has struggled to engage with ACC and hoped for discussions with ministers to explore collaborative improvements.
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