Budget 2006: Young and elderly's health needs targeted

The ever-hungry health sector got a booster shot of $750 million today with major increases at either end of the population spectrum: the very young and the elderly.

Also as previously hinted, significant funding -- $76.1 million -- was in the Budget to fight obesity.

Health Minister Pete Hodgson said $10.6 billion was going into health this coming financial year, $4.2 billion more than in 2000/01.

Spending has steadily increased in recent years -- last Budget it was $9.68b and in 2004 it was $9.1b -- a combination of an ageing population and advances in medicine.

Spread over four years, aged care will get additional funding of $126m, child health $80.4m and battling obesity $76m.

The aged care package was made up of $58m for home-based support services, and $68m for age-related residential care.

The increase was on top of the $39.5 future funding track provided for the wider aged sector for 2006-07.

Mr Hodgson said the boost was historic.

"Ensuring healthy lives for New Zealand families means ensuring quality lives for all older New Zealanders," he said.

"Older New Zealanders deserve more than just access to high quality health and support services. They deserve choices about the kind of services they want to access."

The child health package over four years included:

* $40.8m for oral health for children and adolescents including rebuilding the School Dental Service;

* $23.6m to create a school ready check for four-year-olds and to expand the number of health checks for preschoolers;

* $16m to create a universal hearing screening programme for newborns.

Mr Hodgson said the obesity campaign would be the largest to fight fat in the country's history.

"With little public attention or alarm, poor diet and physical inactivity have become New Zealand's leading causes of premature death," he said.

"Over 11,000 people die every year because they have lost touch with the basic of healthy living, but their deaths could have been avoided."

The Healthy Eating, Healthy Action strategy had been in place since 2003 and Mr Hodgson said the government had a better understanding of what action was needed.

Details of the campaign would be released later but Mr Hodgson said it would focus on schools, primary health care, social agencies and food industry bodies.

There would also be a focus on leadership to coordinate work around the country.

"We are now in a position to put our money where our mouth is and invest heavily in fighting one of the greatest threats faced by New Zealand families."

Parliament is holding an inquiry into obesity and type two diabetes.

- NZPA