National is vowing to cut waiting times for key medical services, including cancer treatment. Its health policy also sets five key targets including shorter emergency department visits; faster cancer treatment; improved immunisation rates; shorter wait times for initial specialist assessments, and for surgery.
A Northland emergency doctor, Gary Payinda says it's easy to set targets but hard to meet them, given chronic understaffing.
He fears the policy could lead to more privatisation of public health services.
Labour's Dr Ayesha Verrall and National's Dr Shane Reti spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
