ACT Finance spokesman Rodney Hide today challenged Labour's Dr Cullen to state Labour's Health Policy and how he was going to pay for it.

"Labour's credit card commitment number three is to "Focus on patients not profit and cut waiting times for surgery in our public health system". The words are fine but where are the dollars to back the promise?

"Dr Cullen's so-called costings released yesterday boost Health funding baselines by just $315 million over three years - or by just 1.4 percent.

(An extra $5 million in 2000/01; $110 million in 2001/02; $200 million in 2002/03.)

"Over the same period Treasury allow in the Long-Term Fiscal model an extra $534 million for Health funded out of the provision for Future Initiatives. This is an increase of 2.5 percent.

(An extra $60 million in 2000/01; $182 million in 2001/02; $292 million in 2002/03.)

"Dr Cullen is actually cutting the Health budget on the one hand and promising on the other to cut waiting times.

"Labour's numbers simply don't add up. I challenge Dr Cullen to match Labour's Health policy with the actual numbers of what it will cost," said Rodney Hide.

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