Health - one of the prickliest portfolios for a Government facing an election - did benefit in the Budget, but the impact of major announcements was lost because most items had already been foreshadowed.
Vote Health increases to nearly $6.7 billion for 1999-2000, up almost $340 million on 1998-1999, with some of the increase allocated for population growth.
The $250 million set aside for a new hospital in central Auckland was announced last month, and increases to funding for the public health system were announced in November.
Included was an extra $75 million over three years for mental health and an extra $25 million in 1999-2000 for elective surgery.
Some relatively small sweeteners for low-income families and children are scattered throughout the Budget, such as a $4.2 million package over three years to help to pay for glasses for under-6-year-olds.
Other examples include:
* $2.8 million to help the 10 per cent of 7000 children in Social Welfare care with severe mental health needs.
* Funding for 500 caregivers to manage problems such as anger, non-violent crises, suicide, depression, eating disorders and sexual abuse.
* Money for specialist day services to help young adults with severe disabilities.
* A further $47 million for Maori to run their own health services. - Catherine Masters
HEALTH: Impact of extra $340m diluted
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