Health on parliament agenda

With two health-related members' bills pulled from the ballot this week, health will be big on parliament's upcoming agenda.

The Members' Bill ballot biscuit tin, Source: Office of the Clerk.

ACT leader David Seymour's euthanasia bill was pulled from the ballot on Thursday, bringing the euthanasia debate back to parliament.

Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill would give people with a terminal illness or a "grievous and irremediable medical condition" the option to request assisted dying.

Two previous bills have failed to pass through parliament: the Death with Dignity Bill in 1995 and 2003, and the End of Life Choice Bill in 2012.

Recent studies published in the New Zealand Medical Journal found that support for euthanasia was growing among the general population, and that over a third of doctors and two-thirds of nurses supported legalising assisted dying.

The Health Select Committee is undertaking a Parliamentary inquiry into euthanasia, but is yet to report back and its recommendations would be non-binding.

As a conscience vote, parties will not take a line on euthanasia and members will be up to MPs to make their own decision on how to vote.

Julie-Anne Genter's medicinal marijuana bill was also pulled from the ballot on Thursday. Her bill aims to make cannabis legal for people suffering chronic pain and terminal illness.

While the Government has made steps to provide access to medicinal cannabis products, Genter said the changes hadn't made much difference.

"We still don't have affordable access to medicinal cannabis in New Zealand… Sativex can cost $1200 a month, and is currently only available for multiple sclerosis."

Further along the process, the plain packaging for cigarettes regulations have been revealed following consultation.

The proposed packaging is available to view on the Ministry of Health's website and includes graphic images of damaged blood vessels and lung cancer as well as pictures of children who could be harmed by exposure to smoking.

Other proposed regulations include standard sizes: 20 or 25 cigarettes per pack, and 30 or 50 grams for loose tobacco.

The bill is awaiting its second reading in parliament, but the packages are expected to be on shelves by March 2018 and all old stock gone from stores by June 2018.

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