Ministry of Health
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The Ministry of Health aims to ensure that the health and disability system works for all New Zealanders. We have eight key responsibilities. These are to: provide policy advice on improving health outcomes, reducing inequalities and increasing participation act as the Minister's agent monitor performance of DHBs and health sector Crown entities implement, administer and enforce relevant legislation and regulations provide health information and process payments facilitate collaboration and co-ordination within and across the sectors provide nationwide planning and maintenance of service agreements plan and fund public health, disability support services and other service areas retained centrally.
Seasonal influenza (‘flu’) vaccine has arrived in New Zealand surgeries and Bonnie Leung (22) made sure she was one of the first to be vaccinated at the National Influenza Strategy Group’s (NISG) official launch in Auckland today.
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Diabetes medicine rosiglitazone will be withdrawn from the New Zealand market on 29 April 2011 after a safety review found an elevated risk of cardiovascular events in patients treated with this medicine.
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he Ministry of Health has requested the voluntary recall of four brands of lipstick for children, which have been found to contain low levels of lead and barium.
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CANTERBURY — A disabled man from Canterbury has been sentenced to six months home detention and ordered to repay $5,000 to the Ministry of Health at the rate of $10 a week after forging documents to claim caregiver support payments.
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MANUKAU CITY — The Manukau District Court today ordered Kevin John Burlace to pay almost $5000 in fines, reparations and costs for performing an activity which can only be carried out by a registered health practitioner.
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AUCKLAND CITY — An Auckland GP Dr Hong Sheng Kong was sentenced this afternoon in the Auckland District Court to 12 months home detention and 400 hours community service after pleading guilty to *16 counts of fraud.
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New Zealand and over 40 other countries recently took part in an international week of action targeting the online sale of counterfeit and illegal medicines, resulting in arrests across the globe and the seizure of thousands of potentially harmful medicines.
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Overall influenza activity continued its steady drop below the baseline for the third consecutive week.
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The Ministry of Health says the statutory management of IDEA Services Ltd is a pragmatic solution to ensure there is no disruption to disability support services for a significant portion of the 7,000 people in community residential services.
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Most New Zealand preschoolers are well-adjusted, and few have difficulties with their emotions, behaviour, or concentration, or in getting along with others, data from the B4 School Checks initiative show.
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Overall influenza H1N1 activity, which has been decreasing since the last week of August, has dropped below the baseline in the past week.
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Influenza H1N1 activity in the community, including influenza related calls to Healthline, continues to fall.
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Influenza H1N1 activity reports are continuing to show a decline.
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Influenza H1N1 activity is continuing across the country, with variable rates of infection according to geographic region.
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For ten years to 2006, Māori mortality rates for cervical cancer fell by 11% per year.
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Influenza H1N1 activity is continuing to increase with some areas reporting higher hospitalisation rates than experienced during last year's pandemic.
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Influenza H1N1 activity is continuing to increase, and the Ministry of Health is now providing twice-weekly updates.
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The Ministry of Health is reminding people that New Zealand is still seeing a significant level of pandemic influenza even though the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the world is now in the post-pandemic phase, Deputy Director of Public Health Darren Hunt said today.
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DUNEDIN — Ministry of Health acting Director General Andrew Bridgman, today released the terms of reference for the expert panel to make recommendations on the future configuration of South Island Neurosurgery.
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Influenza activity is beginning to increase significantly.
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Increasing influenza activity, Influenza activity continues to increase.
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Deputy Director-General of Sector Capability and Implementation, Margie Apa, today announced the appointment of Dr Jane O’Malley to the position of chief nurse for the Ministry of Health.
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From 1 May next year cough and cold medicines for children under 12 years of age containing dextromethorphan and phenylephrine will only be sold in pharmacies.
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A second death of a 51 year old male linked to pandemic influenza (swine flu) has been reported to the Ministry of Health.
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More than half of the 56 New Zealand women at risk of hepatitis C following treatment at a private Australian medical clinic have been contacted and tested.
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Faster emergency department treatment will be one of the hot topics in a new web-based portal launched today (www.hiirc.org.nz).
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Today [23 June 2010] the Ministry of Health released a report on a proposed special support service for former sawmill workers who were exposed to pentachlorophenol (PCP), a timber preservative used in the 1950s to 1980s.
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Calls to Healthline are tailing off for women at risk of hepatitis C following treatment at a private medical clinic in Australia.
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New Zealand and Australian health authorities are working closely to contact 55 New Zealand women who may be at risk of having contracted Hepatitis C after having visited Croydon Day Surgery in Melbourne between 1 January 2006 and 7 December 2009.
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New Zealand and Australian health authorities are tracing 55 New Zealand women who visited a private medical clinic in Australia between 1 January 2006 and 7 December 2009 who may be at risk of having contracted Hepatitis C.
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Please attribute these comments to the Director-General of Health Stephen McKernan.
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The overall level of influenza activity in New Zealand continues to be low, and the number of people visiting a GP with influenza-like illness remains below baseline levels.
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Icelandic volcanic eruption and possibility of short term delays in influenza vaccine supplies from France.
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The latest measles outbreak is a reminder about the importance of immunisation in protecting children from this disease.
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The latest Tobacco Use Survey (2009) shows the current smoking rate for New Zealanders aged between 15 and 64 years is 21.8%, down 2.1% from the 2008 rate of 23.9%.
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Influenza activity remains low and at the usual level for this time of year.
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Please attribute these comments to the Director-General of Health Stephen McKernan.
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MAPUA — Expert advice to the Ministry of Health is that it is unlikely there are adverse long-term health effects for local residents from the Mapua clean-up process. The advice was released today along with a health impact report to the local Mapua community.
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Director-General of Health, Stephen McKernan, is leaving the position and will be finishing later this year.
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The Ministry of Health is developing a new website which will allow doctors, nurses and other specialists in the health sector to come together online to share information and discuss specific topics.
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Seasonal influenza (‘flu) vaccine has arrived in New Zealand surgeries and this year more groups of New Zealanders will be able to get free flu protection.
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Cuts to red tape covering some fluoride toothpastes and anti-dandruff shampoos is possible under an update to medicine regulations proposed in a paper released by the Ministry of Health today.
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During the week of 8-14 February 2010, overall influenza activity in New Zealand remained at the same low levels as in the previous week.
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“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Chai Chuah as the National Director of the NHB,” says Mr McKernan.
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Medsafe is reviewing the balance of risks and benefits of using sibutramine and will be seeking expert advice from the Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee (MARC).
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The Ministry of Health is aware of one report of a death of a young women following HPV immunisation.
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Sentinel surveillance data from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research shows that the current level of pandemic influenza activity in New Zealand is below baseline.
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Medsafe today warned the public of 65 overseas websites that purport to be based in New Zealand and are touting unapproved herbal products.
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Influenza activity in New Zealand continues to to be low, with visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) being below the "baseline" level.
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This week marks Diabetes Awareness Week and it serves as a timely reminder to all New Zealanders about the prevalence of diabetes amongst our communities.
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SOUTHLAND — The Ministry of Health recommends former patients of Invercargill-based urologist, Sajan Bhatia treated after February 2007 have their care reviewed by their GP.
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Pandemic influenza cases are increasing in many northern hemisphere countries.
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The total number of deaths attributed to swine flu is now 19 following investigation of the death of a 35 year old woman who died in Waikato on 21 September – she had underlying medical conditions.
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The rate of Pandemic Influenza infections is continuing to decrease in New Zealand, however it is still circulating.
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As at midday today two people are reported to be in hospital with Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 or its complications.
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Submitting pharmacy claims has just become easier with the nationwide roll-out of an “online pharmacy claiming” service, following its successful pilot in more than 200 Auckland Metro pharmacies.
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Medicines regulatory authorities in New Zealand have found no conclusive evidence that the use of insulin glargine is associated with increased risk of developing cancer, saying findings of recent studies may be due to chance.
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While numbers of swine flu cases in New Zealand appears to be declining the virus is still circulating.
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This is an update to our release on Monday 14 September.
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The Ministry of Healths drug regulatory arm Medsafe is closely monitoring Apotex, Canadas largest medicines manufacturer, following the United States placing an import ban on medicines produced at two manufacturing sites by this company.
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There are a total of 3150 confirmed cases of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu, compared with 3146 on 7 September.
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The number of deaths from Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu is 17.
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Medsafe has started a statutory review of the safety and efficacy of all medicines containing dextropropoxyphene, Medsafe’s Group Manager Dr Stewart Jessamine said.
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The number of deaths from Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu is 17.
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There are a total of 3143 confirmed cases of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu, up from 3130 on 31 August.
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The number of deaths from Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu is 17.
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Swine flu' vaccine: The Ministry of Health has been advised by Baxters Healthcare Ltd that the first shipment of the pandemic influenza vaccine will not arrive in New Zealand until early next month.
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The amount of influenza in the community continues to decline as winter draws to a close, but health officials say people should continue the good hygiene habits they have developed in order to reduce their chance of getting and spreading influenza as well as a myriad of other infections which circulate all year.
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Young people aged 15 to 19 years old have the highest rates of intentional self-harm hospitalisations and females are twice more likely to be hospitalised than males.
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There are a total of 3090 confirmed cases of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu, up from 3086 yesterday.
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The number of people reporting to GPs and hospitals with influenza-like illnesses continues to fall, but people need to remain vigilant and continue to take steps to stop the spread of germs.
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The total number of confirmed cases of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu is unchanged from yesterday at 2935.
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The total number of confirmed cases of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu is 2935, up from 2916 yesterday.
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The total number of confirmed cases of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 09 swine flu is 2916 up from 2908 yesterday.
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The number of GP consultations for influenza-like illnesses appears to have decreased slightly but it is too soon to determine whether this is a temporary dip or the start of an ongoing fall in swine flu cases.
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The first of five Ministry of Health commercials has gone to air reminding New Zealanders to be vigilant about protecting themselves from flu' viruses.
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The Ministry of Health has called on the community to be especially aware of those people who fall ill and may need good friends and neighbours to check on them.
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The Ministry of Healths weekly monitoring may indicate a levelling in the number of people going to the GP with flu symptoms.
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Director of Public Health Dr Mark Jacobs today said the swine flu pandemic is still likely to be in its early days and continued vigilance was important.
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Students living in close contact with others, for example student accommodation and boarding schools, need to be proactive in keeping themselves healthy, and in being careful to limit the spread of influenza if they have symptoms.
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New Zealand's health services continue to feel the pressure from both seasonal and non-seasonal influenza this winter, but are coping well.
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WAIRARAPA — Today a pharmacist was sentenced to nine months home detention and ordered to pay $25,000 in reparation for defrauding the Wairarapa District Health Board of just over $142,000.
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Schools are being advised to keep a close eye on students and children with underlying health conditions.
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A rapid rise in the number of measles cases is a reminder for parents to make sure that their children’s immunisations are up to date.
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Thousands of students and teachers are due to go back to school tomorrow, but the Ministry of Health is advising anyone who is sick to stay home.
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The cumulative total of confirmed cases in New Zealand is 2250, up from 2230 yesterday.
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The Ministry of Health continues to encourage pregnant women who get sick with influenza-like symptoms to be prompt in phoning for medical advice.
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The number of confirmed deaths from new Influenza A (H1N1) swine flu has risen to 10, with the death of a Tairawhiti man in his 40s.
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Public awareness around swine flu remains high, with the Ministry of Health website and Healthline experiencing a higher than usual level of interest.
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The number of confirmed deaths in New Zealand from Novel Influenza A (H1N1) 09 swine flu is now nine, up two since yesterday and both people had underlying health conditions.
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The number of confirmed deaths in New Zealand from Novel Influenza A (H1N1) 09 swine flu remains at seven.
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As at 1.30pm today, New Zealand's confirmed number of deaths from Novel Influenza A (H1N1) swine flu remains at six.
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New Zealand's confirmed number of deaths from Novel Influenza A (H1N1) 09 swine flu is six, up one since yesterday.
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The confirmed number of New Zealand deaths from Novel Influenza A is now five - up two from the three announced over the weekend.
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From today the Ministry of Health is providing a weekly snapshot that gives a fuller picture of the extent of this new influenza - numbers of people consulting GPs, and numbers admitted to hospital and in Intensive Care Units throughout the country.
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Healthline continues to receive high volumes of calls with well over 2,000 calls answered yesterday (Sunday).
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Dr Mark Jacobs, Director of Public Health said the Ministry of Health and health services around New Zealand continue to focus on managing the pandemic, with our priorities being providing services to those most in need, and providing advice to New Zealanders on how they and their families can reduce the risk of infection.
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The Ministry can sadly report three deaths linked to swine flu.
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Whilst the majority of people who contract swine flu this winter will be able to care for themselves at home, there are some people, with underlying health conditions who may fall acutely unwell with the illness.
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