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New investment of $8 million over four years will support communities to help prevent suicide, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne and Associate health Minister Tariana Turia say.

This is in addition to the $5.8 million being invested in the Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Package.

“Suicide prevention is everybody’s responsibility,” Mrs Turia says. “The Government cannot make the changes we need without a strong partnership with communities and recognition that everyone has a contribution to make to suicide prevention.

Health receives the largest increase in government spending in the Budget, with $435 million available to help fund cost pressures and new initiatives in 2012/13, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

“Despite tight financial times, the Government is spending $14.12 billion in 2012/13 on health – the biggest investment ever,” he says. “This demonstrates the National Government’s commitment to protecting and growing our public health services.”

Budget 2012 is delivering a further $68 million of operating funding over the next four years to maintain the record levels of elective surgery achieved under the National-led Government, and to further reduce waiting times for patients.

“This Government has achieved huge increases in the number of people getting the operations they need,” Health Minister Tony Ryall says. “District health boards are now performing 27,000 more elective operations a year – 500 extra operations a week – compared to 2008.

Budget 2012 is delivering an additional $33 million in operating funding over the next four years for better and faster services for cancer patients, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

This includes funding for dedicated nurses, who will coordinate care and support for individual patients throughout the course of their cancer treatment.

“Being diagnosed with cancer is a difficult time for patients and their families,” Mr Ryall says. “This more personalised service will mean better treatment and a less stressful experience for patients.

Tobacco excise taxes will increase by 10 per cent a year on 1 January in each of the next four years as part of a wider government programme to prevent young people from taking up smoking and encourage existing smokers to quit, Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says.

This will be in addition to the annual inflation-indexed increases in tobacco excise, and follows a 40 per cent increase in excise since April 2010.

A new $6 million Pacific Innovation Fund will help improve the health of Pasifika people, Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says.

“The fund recognises the need to design responsive services across health, education, housing, justice, social services, employment, and lifestyle.

“The fund, to be invested over four years, is aligned to the vision of Whanau Ora for Pasifika people,” Mrs Turia says.

“This fund will support Pasifika people to develop Pasifika solutions to the issues they face as distinct communities.”

Budget 2012 will make available $143.7 million over the next four years to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

The Budget next week will provide $101 million of extra funding over the next four years for more elective operations and scans, and improved cancer services, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

In a pre-Budget announcement with Prime Minister John Key, Mr Ryall said the extra Budget funding would invest in four new initiatives.

“This is part of our commitment to deliver more and better frontline health services where they are most needed, while ensuring we responsibly manage the Government’s finances,” Mr Ryall says.

Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced the Government will increase the $3 prescription charge to $5 per item up to a maximum of 20 items from 1 January 2013. The savings will be reinvested in the health sector.

“The National-led Government is committed to protecting and growing public health services,” Mr Ryall said at a pre-Budget announcement with Prime Minister John Key.

The Government’s campaign to stamp out a third world disease reached Porirua today with a new school throat swabbing programme - part of a $24 million five-year campaign to reduce rheumatic fever.

Launching the expanded throat swabbing programme at Holy Family School in Porirua with Prime Minister John Key, Associate Health Minister and Māori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said the Government was determined to significantly reduce this serious disease.