The Ministry of Health has given the clearest signal yet that the Government is likely to increase the tax on cigarettes to help slash the number of people who smoke.

A rest home and hospital for the aged in South Auckland will close next month after it failed to meet standards imposed by health authorities.

The IHC is seeking Govt help over an Employment Court case that could cost it $80 million in backpay and an extra $20m a year in wages.

A promised Government crackdown on the main ingredient in the drug P is likely to be at least a year away.

Eight families who say they need help to look after their disabled children have been left waiting almost a year for a decision by the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

Nearly 100 patients died after "serious" incidents in public hospitals during the year to June 30, according to a report out today.

Drinking water flowing to almost one in six New Zealanders either failed to reach health standards or escaped testing during 2007/08.

More than 2700 hospital service workers around the country will strike this Friday over stalled wage negotiations.

Hospital emergency departments in much of Auckland are performing below par on newly issued national rankings of DHBs.

Angelina Jolie's dad, actor Jon Voight, has denounced our health system as causing "many deaths"

DHB chiefs are bracing themselves to make deep cuts to their services next year after receiving Government indications their funding will slip.

Labtests failed to diagnose cancer in tissue taken from a patient with a history of malignant melanoma.