The Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says the passing of a Bill to increase the tobacco excise will save lives and prevent young people taking up a deadly smoking habit.
The Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products-Budget Measures) Amendment Bill passed through all stages in Parliament today.
The Bill increases the excise tax on tobacco by 10 per cent per annum for the next four years, from 1 January 2017.
Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has released an updated three-year strategy to prevent and minimise the harm that can result from gambling.
"The latest plan aims to build on the work done in more recent years which has resulted in a reduction in risk factors for gambling harm.
“For example the number of adults engaging in multiple forms of gambling has reduced, as has the number of adults participating in monthly EGM gambling.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Government has approved an extra $9.7 million in funding to ensure the new Grey Base Hospital is a high quality facility with construction starting next week.
“The Government is committed to the Grey Base Hospital redevelopment and providing the services that the community needs,” says Dr Coleman.
Budget 2016 will increase the tax on tobacco by 10 per cent on 1 January each year for the next four years, Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga and Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox say.
“Raising the price of tobacco is the single most powerful tool to reduce smoking. All smokers will face the price rises. The more they smoke, the more they pay. The more they pay, the greater the incentive to quit,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.
The Government is investing $36 million to ensure more New Zealand families live in warmer, drier and healthier homes, Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman and Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges say.
The investment includes:
An extra $96 million over four years will ensure more New Zealanders get the surgery they need, Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman says.
“Access to elective surgery is a priority for this Government. It makes a real difference to patients and their families.
“As New Zealanders live longer, access to elective surgery is becoming more important than ever. Doing more elective surgery each year is crucial.
“This funding boost is part of the continued effort to increase elective surgeries by an average of 4,000 a year,” Dr Coleman says.
The roll-out of a national bowel screening programme is on track to begin in 2017, Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman says.
Budget 2016 invests $39.3 million over four years for national bowel screening – starting with Hutt Valley and Wairarapa DHBs. This will be followed by a progressive roll-out across the country.
Additional funding has also been set aside in contingency to enable the IT support needed for a national screening programme.
The Government’s investment in health will reach a record $16.1 billion in 2016/17, Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman says.
“Delivering better health services remains this Government’s number one funding priority. Budget 2016 delivers on that by investing an extra $2.2 billion in health over four years for new initiatives and to meet cost pressures and population growth.
“An extra $568 million will be invested in 2016/17 - the biggest increase in seven years, and almost $170 million more than last year.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the health targets continue to drive performance across the health system, with the gains made in the previous quarter largely maintained.
“The health targets are important as they help to deliver better, faster access to key health services for New Zealanders,” says Dr Coleman.
“The elective surgery target has again been achieved with 146,018 elective surgical discharges provided for the year to date – 7,992 more than planned.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the updated lung cancer standards will help to ensure people with lung cancer receive the best possible care.
“Lung cancer is the biggest cause of cancer death in New Zealand and disproportionately affects our most vulnerable populations,” says Dr Coleman.
“Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer, with around 85 per cent of people who die from lung cancer were smokers.
Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed expert clinical support of the Government’s approach to prescribing cannabis-based products from medical specialists and the New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA).
Mr Dunne instructed Ministry of Health officials in March to undertake a targeted consultation with a range of medical specialists and the NZMA to determine whether the guidelines used to assess applications for prescribing cannabis-based products were still fit for purpose.
The reclassification of a series of drugs posing a serious health risk to young people continues to progress and has been welcomed by Associate Minister of Health, Hon Peter Dunne.
“The impact of the NBOMe family of drugs, particularly on young people, can be devastating and the pending change in classification with appropriate, stiffer penalties available sends a clear signal of the wider community’s condemnation of these substances”, says Mr Dunne
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a record number of doctors and nurses are working in DHBs across the country.
“Our dedicated health workforce is making a difference to the lives of New Zealanders. More doctors and nurses in our DHBs means faster treatment and better experiences for patients and their families,” says Dr Coleman.
As of 31 March 2016, there were over 7,880 doctor full-time-equivalents and 22,500 nurse full-time equivalents employed by DHBs – that’s almost 2,000 more doctors and nearly 4,200 more nurses compared to 2008.
The Government will increase funding for health research by $97 million over the next four years, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Health Minister Jonathan Coleman announced today.
“The annual amount available for health research through the Health Research Council (HRC) will increase by 56 per cent over four years - from $77 million in 2015/16 to $120 million in 2019/20,” Mr Joyce says.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says people are getting access to the mental health and addiction services they need.
“It’s important that people can access the mental health and addiction services they need within an appropriate timeframe,” says Dr Coleman.
“Mental health and addiction services across the country are responding to increased demand; a 21 per cent increase over the last five years.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the New Zealand Public Health and Disability (Southern DHB) Elections Bill has passed its third and final reading 95-26.
“I would like to acknowledge the cross-party support for this important piece of legislation which extends the term of the Southern DHB Commissioner and her team,” says Dr Coleman.
“Achieving financial stability at Southern DHB is a long term process. Without this legislative change the Commissioner and her team would have less than 18 months to improve the DHB’s position.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a Ministry of Health review of the cochlear implant programme for children shows positive results.
“Cochlear implants are life changing as they can significantly improve a child’s hearing and learning ability,” says Dr Coleman.
“Budget 2014 provided an extra $6.3 million over four years for a bilateral cochlear implant programme for children.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the new national telehealth service is providing high quality individual healthcare support to almost 14,000 people who call, text, and email each week.
“In just six months, the free integrated 24/7 national telehealth service has already proven to be invaluable to New Zealanders,” says Dr Coleman.
“The telehealth service is ensuring people can access the right advice, at the right time, no matter where they live, or how they choose to make contact.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says a new technician role will help to free up pharmacists so they can spend more time with patients.
“Pharmacists play an important part in helping to deliver faster more convenient healthcare,” says Dr Coleman.
“Many New Zealanders already benefit from the advice and care of their pharmacist. In order to help pharmacists spend more time with patients a new technician role has been developed.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is encouraging people to use a new online map to see whether their GP offers a patient portal.
“A growing number of general practices are introducing patient portals. These secure online sites are the health equivalent to online banking,” says Dr Coleman.
“Portals enable patients to book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and view lab test results online.
“You can have secure conversations with your GP via email, and in some cases, patients can also view their notes online.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says good progress is being made around the country to further improve cancer care and support services.
"Every year more than 20,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer and this number continues to increase as the population ages," says Dr Coleman.
"A cancer diagnosis can be a difficult time for many people and their families. Ensuring they have access to good psychological and social support can make a big difference.
An extra $39 million will be invested in 2016/17 to enable Pharmac to provide more New Zealanders with access to new medicines, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says.
“Pharmac’s model for increasing subsidised medicines and treatments for New Zealanders is world class,” Dr Coleman says.
“This funding boost in Budget 2016 – an extra $124 million over four years -will mean that Pharmac can further increase access to new medicines, benefiting more New Zealanders.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says more than one million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine have now been distributed across the country.
“New Zealanders are protecting themselves, their families and their communities from influenza. This is the fifth year in a row where more than a million doses have been distributed,” says Dr Coleman.
“This year the influenza immunisation programme has rolled out smoothly, with the vaccine moving out quickly since it was first available in early March.
