Hon David Cunliffe
Minister of Health

11 March 2008 Media Statement
Broad Health Delegations launched
Embargoed until 4.30pm

Health Minister David Cunliffe today launched extensive delegations to a strong team of Associate Health Ministers giving them a wide scope for action.

The five Associate Ministers, the Hon Jim Anderton, Hon Steve Chadwick, Hon Damien O’Connor, Hon Mita Ririnui and Hon Peter Dunne represent a diverse range of constituencies and portfolio areas.

“My aim is to have a co-ordinated health service where Associate Ministers play a vital role in helping plan and deliver important decisions in this essential portfolio.”

Mr Cunliffe said the Associate Ministers would be responsible for policy areas ranging from men’s health, suicide prevention, Healthy Eating - Healthy Action, cardiovascular health, maternity, Maori health and problem gambling.

“Fruit in schools, Healthy Eating Healthy Action, tobacco control, drug policy, sexual health are all policies that promote good health, rather than simply sitting back and waiting for someone to become ill before acting.”

The Associate Ministers will also play a primary relationship role with liaison with a number of District Health Boards.

Mr Cunliffe said the health portfolio was one that every New Zealander came into contact with it was therefore important to have policies that worked together to provide first class services but that also enabled kiwi’s to maintain health.

Mr Cunliffe said since coming to office in 1999 the Labour-led Government had made a huge investment in health.

“By reducing the barriers to people accessing primary care we are encouraging New Zealander’s to use health services to maintain their well being.

“The large and active Ministerial team and the broad delegations that empower them will allow the public to benefit from a higher degree of ministerial involvement this crucial portfolio.”

ENDS

Associate Ministers – Portfolio areas

Hon Jim Anderton

- All matters relating to leading and co-ordination of the implementation of the New Zealand Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy.

- Chairing the Ministerial Committee on Suicide Prevention.

- All matters related to Part 1 and Part 2 of the National Drug Policy and New Zealand’s representative on the Australian Ministerial Council on Drug strategy.

Liaison with the following DHB

- Canterbury District Health Board

Hon Peter Dunne (United Future)

- Involvement of a long-term medicine strategy relating to quality pharmaceutical usage in the health sector, including the role PHARMAC should play in implementing the strategy.

Hon Damien O’Connor _-

- Rural Health

- Men’s health issues

- Tobacco and alcohol

- Problem gambling

Implementation of policies for

- The Healthy Eating – Healthy Action Strategy

- Diabetes and cardiovascular health

- The cancer strategy and action plan

- Preventative environmental health

Liason with the following DHBs

- West Coast

- Otago

- Nelson/ Marlborough

- Southland

- South Canterbury

Hon Steve Chadwick

- Maternity

- Child and Youth Health

- Sexual Health

- Oral Health

- Action on family violence issues.

Implementation of polices for

- Communicable diseases

- Immunisations policies.

Liaison with the Following DHBs

- Lakes

- Waikato

- Tairawhiti

Hon Mita Ririnui

- Implementation of the relation to the Maori Health Strategy He Korowai Oranga.

- New Zealand Blood Service and Organ Donation issues.

Liaison with the following DHBs

- Northland,

- Taranaki,

- Wairarapa

- Hutt Valley

- Midcentral

- Whanganui

- Bay of Plenty

ENDS

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