Cuts to funding for sexual health visits would probably increase unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, Queenstown Medical Centre chief operating officer Shane Zeederberg says.
The future of the Wakatipu Sexual Health and Family Planning Clinic, operated at the medical centre, is under a cloud after confirmation its services did not fit new, tighter criteria for access to free sexual health services proposed by the Southern Primary Health Organisation.
The PHO, formed in October, when nine Otago and Southland PHOs merged, wants to offer free sexual health consultations only to those fitting a "high needs" criteria, and then restrict visits to two per person per year.
Mr Zeederberg said the clinic provided a crucial service for people under 24 who might not feel comfortable consulting a GP on matters of sexual health.
It was possible the clinic would have to close if it could not find another funding source. From Monday, its services would no longer be free.
The clinic had applied to the Southern District Health Board for full or part funding, which the board was considering.
Acknowledging Queenstown was a party town geared towards an often "carefree" under-30 demographic, Mr Zeederberg said the clinic saw 2000 enrolled people last year.
"There's more active partygoers and nightclubs and they're exposed to more."
If the clinic went unfunded it was likely Wakatipu would see a rise in unwanted pregnancies and [sexually transmitted infections], he said.
