Physician associates as a potential win for the Aotearoa New Zealand healthcare workforce.

A recent proposal by Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health to regulate the physician associate (PA) profession has been put forth, coinciding with a much-lamented Aotearoa New Zealand healthcare workforce crisis. PAs are clinicians educated in the medical model who practise in dependent partnership with physicians. Introduction of PAs to the healthcare workforce is globally considered a success by multiple metrics. While important considerations to meet the needs of Aotearoa New Zealand should involve crucial stakeholders, adding PAs under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCAA) should be considered as an evidence-based step towards alleviating the healthcare workforce crisis in Aotearoa New Zealand.