The 2006 health budget is being called one "for all New Zealand families" as it sets aside $750 million in additional funding for fighting obesity, improving aged care and children's health and improving access to care under ACC.

Budget 2006 provides a $3 billion increase to the health budget over the next four years.

Health Minister Pete Hodgson says in the coming year the government will spend $10.6 billion in the health sector, $4.2 billion more than in 2000/01.

"Over seven budgets, the Labour-led government has invested heavily in health and in doing so has changed the face of health care in New Zealand," says Hodgson.

Fighting obesity 

Budget 2006 has set aside $76.1 million in what the government is calling "the largest campaign to fight obesity in our country's history."

The importance of the battle against obesity was highlighted this week with a Ministry of Health report that estimates more than half of New Zealand adults are overweight or obese. The 57 page document says 34% of New Zealanders over the age of 15 are overweight and 20% are classed as obese.

The funding is not a big surprise as Hodgson indicated in January that a significant amount of money would be set aside to tackle obesity.

Hodgson says poor diet and inaction have become New Zealand's leading causes of premature death.

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

Obesity can lead to many health complications such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.

Exactly what the obesity campaign entails has not been made clear, but Hodgson says it will focus on initiatives with schools, primary health, social agencies and food industry bodies.

Full details of the campaign will be made public in a series of announcements later in the year.

The old and the young 

Healthcare for children and the elderly have received a boost with funding to be delivered over the next four years.

The $80.4 million child health package includes a strengthened child and adolescent oral health service, an expansion of Well Child checks and the creation of a universal newborn hearing screening programme.

New Zealand does not test children for congenital hearing loss until they are nearly four years old, when the best time to do so to prevent learning and other issues is three months.

"The initiatives we'll be funding focus on getting ahead of the problems likely to be faced by our children and providing earlier access to the services that will make a difference in their lives," says Hodgson.

At the other end of the age scale budget 2006 delivers $126 million over the next four years towards improving care for older New Zealanders.

The funding comprises $58 million for home-based support services and $68 million for age-related residential care.

"This is a significant investment in the health of older New Zealanders, but it's also one that will help us keep pace with the growing number of people choosing to remain in their homes for as long as possible," says Hodgson.

The funds will be distributed to DHBs according to the population-based funding formula and DHBs will then negotiate with aged-care providers.

ACC 

The budget has increased ACC funding for a range of rehabilitation and treatment providers in the hope of "reducing barriers to accessing care".

Home based rehabilitation funding will increase by $5.5 million and ACC contributions towards specific treatment providers will increase by $12.9 million.

ACC Minister Ruth Dyson says the increased home-based funding will help ensure injured people living at home receive high quality care.

"The additional funding will start to address the shortage of support workers providing home-based rehabilitation, such as home help and attendant care," says Dyson.

Around 2,700 New Zealanders need significant long-term care.

Both funding increases will occur over a period of four years.