New data shows the importance of vaccination against Invasive Pneumococcal Disease
Publication date:It is encouraging to see rates of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD), a disease linked with severe forms of pneumonia and meningitis, decreasing among children under 2, following the reintroduction of the PCV13 vaccine in early 2023.
Mental Health Bill introduced to the House
Publication date:The new Mental Health Bill has been introduced and is now publicly available. The Mental Health Bill will repeal the current Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992, which is more than thirty years old and no longer fit for purpose.
Rollout of new medicines across New Zealand begins
Publication date:1 October marks the first day a range of new medicines, including cancer medicines, will start to become available in hospitals and health centres across New Zealand.
New funding for child and youth mental health survey
Publication date:The Ministry of Health welcomes the Government’s commitment to ongoing funding of $2 million per year for a Child and Youth Mental Health and Addiction Prevalence Survey.
Vaping regulations coming into effect 1 October
Publication date:The deadline for all vaping devices to have removeable batteries and a child safety mechanism is coming up on 1 October 2024.
Medsafe updating advice on nitrous oxide abuse
Publication date:Medsafe has updated its advice on the law in relation to the supply and use of nitrous oxide for recreational use.
Series of prosecutions begins for illegal cigarette and vape sales
Publication date:A tobacco and vape retailer and his employee have received fines totalling $8000 after an investigation by Health New Zealand led to the Ministry of Health filing charges against them. These are the first sentencings in a series of prosecutions currently being undertaken by the Ministry against retailers identified as repeat offenders by Health New Zealand investigations.
Research into health and wellbeing impacts of adverse weather conditions
Publication date:Key findings and recommendations on the health and wellbeing impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle have been published today.
Three additional ‘Safe Areas’ announced
Publication date:New ‘Safe Areas’ will be in place around three abortion service providers from 27 September 2024, to protect the safety, wellbeing, privacy and dignity of people who are accessing or providing abortion services.
Ministry prosecutes vape retailer
Publication date:A Christchurch shopkeeper has been fined $56,000 for the illegal sale of vapes and cigarettes, including selling vapes to minors.
2023 Health and Independence Report published
Publication date:The Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora has published the 2023 Health and Independence Report.
Redesigned Ministry of Health website now live
Publication date:The redesigned Ministry of Health website has been launched today.
Consultation for Draft Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2025/26 to 2027/28 opens
Publication date:Today the Ministry of Health – Mānatu Hauora has opened consultation on the proposed strategy to prevent and minimise gambling harm for the next three years.
Consultation to update the New Zealand clinical trial regulatory guidelines
Publication date:A plan aiming to streamline clinical trial reporting procedures in some circumstances is now out for consultation. Medsafe is seeking public feedback on a series of proposed updates to the regulatory guidelines for people conducting clinical trials for medicines and medical devices.
Pause on Surgical mesh update
Publication date:It’s been one year since the Director-General of Health, Dr Diana Sarfati, supported a pause in the use of surgical mesh to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) on the recommendation of the Surgical Mesh Roundtable (MRT).