11 Aug 2025

Chronic under-resourcing of cardiac care costing lives

From Checkpoint, 5:08 pm on 11 August 2025

Heart disease is costing the country nearly $14 billion a year in direct costs to the health system and early deaths of one in five New Zealanders. That was the stark analysis from Otago University research, which shows chronic under-resourcing of cardiac care is costing lives. Ruth Hill reports. And for more, Health New Zealand's Chief Clinical Officer, Richard Sullivan spoke to Lisa Owen.