Frontline public health programmes slashed under National

The National Government has slashed public health services including cutting $12 million of tobacco control programmes over the next four years, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

“Cutting $12 million from tobacco control programmes over four years while at the same time increasing the tax take from tobacco by $200 million is ridiculous,” Ruth Dyson said.

“It’s clear that the Minister of Health Tony Ryall has slashed public health spending without even looking at what he is really doing. Was he aware that Judith Collins was going to bring in legislation banning smoking in prisons when he decided to cut $12 million from the tobacco control budget?

“Surely that money should have been put towards increasing smoking cessation efforts,” Ruth Dyson said.

“Also cut over the next four years is $8million of sexual health promotion and prevention programmes, $1 million from public health alcohol and drug services, $4 million from mental health workforce development and $1.2 million from the Like Minds Like Mine campaign.

“The cuts were all revealed in Budget documents released by Treasury last week.

“Cutting millions from tobacco control and sexual health promotion isn’t about cutting low value spending, it’s slashing frontline services simply because the National Government doesn’t value health promotion or prevention.

“If a government is serious about improving the health of its population then health promotion and prevention activities needs to be a priority.

“Already this week we have seen the fact that the National-led Government doesn’t understand issues like obesity and is ignoring them. Now it seems they are quite happy to fail New Zealanders on issues like smoking cessation as well,” Ruth Dyson said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media