National's sudden decision to force Kiwis to pay more for health services is affirmation that it has failed to properly manage the economy or create growth, says Labour Leader David Shearer.

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

Speaking at the New Zealand Federation of Disabilities Information Centres’ Conference in Queenstown today, Health Minister Tony Ryall says the $143.7 million is made up of $132.7 million in new investment and $11.0 million in savings.

The government’s announcement of a $2 hike in prescription charges next year is more than enough to cover the expected cost of specialised medicines for rare “orphan” diseases, says the NZ Organisation for Rare Disorders.

It would be nice to think that the basis for yesterday’s decision to raise prescription charges wasn’t just “ We haven’t lifted them for 20 years” and/or that it didn’t sound like much of a price rise if like Health Minister Tony Ryall or Prime Minister John Key, you were earning over $200,000 a year.

Today the Prime Minister gave a pre-budget announcement at Wellington Regional Hospital; he was accompanied by Health Minister Tony Ryall.
He announced a number of new initiatives which came to an investment of $101m over four years which will be largely funded by an increase in prescription charges and other savings within the health sector.

Medicines New Zealand welcomes Prime Minister Key’s announcement today regarding the additional investment in health.

Reallocation of funding to allow better use of our health dollar has been something Medicines New Zealand has long advocated for.

Minister of Health, the Hon Tony Ryall, had announced that 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.

The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (the Guild) believes that today’s increase of the co-payment for prescription items from $3 to $5 was expected because the current funding was unsustainable.

Extra Government funding over the next four years for more elective operations and scans, and improved cancer services, to deliver better frontline services for patients is welcomed by the NZMA.

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.

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.

Massey University will spend $75 million upgrading and expanding New Zealand's only veterinary school, increasing its capacity to train vets by 180 students.

Sandi Haggar has been appointed to the new role of nurse practitioner – palliative care with the Waikato Regional Palliative Care Service. She is one of only four palliative care nurse practitioners in New Zealand.

For some Waikato Hospital staff, work is a family affair. It’s not unusual for husbands and wives or sibling sets to work for such a large organisation, but it’s rare for four members of one family to share the same employer. This week Waikato Hospital will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the first operation so it's timely to acknowledge our staff who work there today.

A paper [1] published today in the New Zealand Medical Journal supports a focus on improving hand hygiene in hospitals to reduce hospital-acquired infections.

The new home for the Akaroa Health Centre was officially opened today by Canterbury District Health Board chief executive David Meates.

In December the Health Centre was forced to move out of its previous location at Akaroa Hospital as a consequent of earthquake damage and following an engineering report.

The PSA says a government proposal to offer free long-term contraception to beneficiaries would raise serious professional issues for Work and Income case managers.

More patients will get operations sooner as a result of a $7 million investment announced by Health Minister Tony Ryall.

The funding of $7 million will expand productivity programmes led by surgeons, anaesthetists, theatre nurses and other health professionals to improve quality and reduce delays for patients having operations.

Waikato District Health Board has today accepted the findings of coroner Gordon Matenga into the death of baby Adam Barlow at Waikato Hospital on 25 October 2009.

Party President, Pem Bird, has congratulated Tariana Turia on the announcement today of securing another $12m to help stamp out rheumatic fever in vulnerable communities. This follows on from the $12m the Maori Party was able to secure in the 2008 Government.