Minister of Health, Shane Reti, has issued a reminder to the National Public Health Service to concentrate its focus on prioritising serious public health issues facing New Zealanders.
His remarks followed news of an 8-page submission by the southern arm of the NPHS regarding a proposed fast food outlet in Wanaka.
“I have raised my ongoing concerns about the content of submissions like these with the Chief Executive of Health New Zealand,” said Dr Reti.
The Minister said content within the submission, including observations about planetary health, landscape values, traffic and Te Tiriti did not align his view of what the NPHS should be spending its time on.
“Whooping cough, measles and raising immunisation rates are among the most pressing issues facing health today.”
“I also found it astonishing that a submission from a health agency did not address the topics it might have been expected to. There was no mention in the document I have seen of healthy eating.”
Dr Reti said he was pleased to hear that the National Director of the NPHS has now undertaken to review all potential public submissions from his agency, whether at a national, local or regional level.
“Submissions will have to meet more stringent criteria than were used in the context of the proposed Wanaka McDonald’s document,” he said.
“They will need to be considered as having a reasonable chance of influencing a decision and the NPHS says submissions will only be made on issues of direct public health concern.
“These will be temporary measures while the service focuses on its important reset currently underway. A permanent framework will be established in future.
“I do recognise the important work of frontline public health services on issues such the spread of infectious diseases and on providing health services for children.
“Today’s acknowledgement from the Director to me will make more time available for that vital work,” Dr Reti says.
