A suggestion of capping admissions to Otago Medical School through the Māori Entry Pathway has "deeply disturbed" a group of physician advocates.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians' (RACP) Māori Health Committee has expressed its concern following the university's consideration of the idea.
In an open letter, RACP urged the University of Otago to protect the entry pathway, making it permanent with no cap on annual numbers.
"More Māori and Pasifika doctors means whānau who feel comfortable to see their respiratory physician, or their tamariki's paediatrician, because they know that the person in charge of their care will understand them in a way no one else can.
"Going to a health practitioner who looks and sounds like you, thinks like you and has the same core beliefs as you is an experience we want to be the norm for whānau.
"More Māori and Pasifika doctors also means more Māori and Pasifika in clinical leadership with significant opportunities to influence policy, strategy, and guideline development.
"It means more Māori and Pasifika medical specialists taking senior leadership roles in Colleges and specialty societies, in District Health Boards and the Ministry of Health."
In 2018, Māori and Pasifika doctors made up just 3.5 percent and 1.8 percent of the workforce.
Māori make up 17 percent of the population so the policy itself should only be a starting point for equity, the letter says.
University of Otago health sciences pro-vice-chancellor Paul Brunton told the Otago Daily Times there is not yet any formal proposal to put on a cap.
"The university's medical admissions committee has been considering a document looking at medical admissions broadly... If there is a proposal in future, this would be subject to the usual university procedures, including opportunities for consultation with relevant stakeholders during that process."
