Free doctor visits for under-14s are at risk of being scrapped as GP clinics struggle with spiralling inflation.
More than 1000 doctors and urgent care clinics say other essential healthcare services are also on the chopping block if Government funding doesn't increase to keep up with rising cost pressures.
GP clinics are feeling the pinch - and now the mounting costs are threatening to end free doctor visits for children.
Clinics can either opt in or out of the scheme, which is subsidised by the Government.
"If your costs are going up and your income is either constrained or even in some cases going down, then you struggle to maintain a viable business," said Dr Angus Chambers, General Practice Owners Association deputy chair.
Dr Chambers represents more than 1000 private GP and urgent care clinics and says Government funding isn't keeping pace with inflation.
The latest subsidy increase was just 2.78 percent.
"That's no way near inflation, let alone the cost pressures that are coming into our particular sector."
The Health Minister says the Government's been committed to funding doctors.
"We have put a lot more into GP practices than what the case was before," said Andrew Little.
"They get to negotiate their funding contract every year with DHBs. That's the opportunity for them if they think they need more help to negotiate that."
But if they can't, other essential GP services are also under threat.
That includes low-cost visits for community services cardholders; childhood immunisations and flu and COVID-19 jabs; and management of conditions like diabetes and cervical screening.
"Suggesting women won't go for that screening is very worrying for the future of women's health," says Dr Emma Parry of the New Zealand Gynaecological Cancer Foundation.
Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP) says it's one more worry for families who are already avoiding visiting the doctor over cost.
"Free appointments shouldn't be an opt-in service, it should be something that if it's going to be free then the Government should ensure that funding," says AAAP's Brooke Stanley Pao.
Little says the Government will continue to work with GPs and their funding contracts are reflective of the costs they face.
But if GPs are forced to cut services, Dr Chambers says it "would be upsetting".
Another sector being squeezed by rising inflation.