Barriers remain to Maori and Pasifika entering the medical professions

Research from Otago and Auckland's universities show the number of Maori doctors has risen just 2.4 percent since 2000.

It's also found poverty is a barrier to studying medecine across all demographics.

Auckland Medical and Health Sciences Professor, Warwick Bagg, says getting a quality education is hard.

He says research shows someone going to a wealthier school, is more likely to get into medical school than students from poorer schools.