NZPA: The National Party has quietly dropped its plan to scrap the review system which forces doctors to explain fee increases that are above the rate of inflation.
It is unpopular with the medical sector, and health spokesman Tony Ryall confirmed last year a National-led government would abolish it.
The Government immediately accused him of running a secret agenda because it was not in a health policy discussion paper he launched in September.
In a speech to the New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) last Friday, Mr Ryall said: "What patients will want to know is that the fees they pay are reasonable and will not rise unchecked.
"For this reason we will maintain a GP fee review process and will work with you to reduce associated bureaucracy and cost."
Health Minister David Cunliffe said tonight policy flip-flops were becoming the National Party's trademark.
"Friday's admission from Tony Ryall at a medical conference in Rotorua that it was scrapping plans that would have allowed GP fees to skyrocket is hardly a shock given their track record," he said.
Mr Cunliffe's comments upset the NZMA, which said GP fees were once again being used as a political football.
"It is a scare tactic to the public, and pure electioneering, to suggest that GP fees would rise unreasonably either now or under a future government," said NZMA chairman Peter Foley.
"The expensive and bureaucratic fee review system, introduced by this government, is unnecessary.
"Where it has been applied it has overwhelmingly shown that fee increases have been found to be reasonable."
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