Ministry of Health

NZ Government

    
 ©Copyright
 Published: 23/11/2011

Enrolment in a PHO is voluntary, but people are encouraged to join a PHO in order to gain the benefits associated with belonging to a PHO, which include cheaper doctor’s visits and reduced costs on prescription medicines.

Most general practices are now part of a PHO. If you are not enrolled in a PHO, ask your regular doctor if they are part of a PHO.

To enrol, you will have to sign a form which the doctor, nurse or medical centre receptionist will give you. The form will ask you for your personal details such as name, age, date of birth, address and ethnicity. The information collected at enrolment comes under the Privacy Act 1993 and the Health Information Privacy Code 1994, so the privacy of your information is protected.

You can only be enrolled in one PHO at a time, and the practice you visit most often will receive funding for your visits. If you need to make a casual visit to another practice (for example, if you are away from home and get sick), and you do not hold a Community Services Card, you may be charged the full fee as a casual patient.