Wellington, Sept 2 NZPA - The Government will continue to address concerns about rising costs and a diminishing level of care in the home support sector, says Associate Health Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Wellington, Aug 31 NZPA - The Ministry of Health has issued new guidelines on how to clean up P labs. The guidelines outline everything from how to establish if there is a risk and which government agency needs to get involved.

By Paloma Migone of NZPA Wellington, July 21 NZPA - Only half of New Zealand prisoners suffering from serious mental health illness are being treated, despite there being room to accommodate them.

Wellington, June 28 NZPA - Banning the sale of duty-free tobacco in New Zealand is not on the radar, despite urgings from anti-smoking lobby groups, says Prime Minister John Key.

Wellington, June 4 NZPA - New Zealand is good for the rich kids, not the poor ones, a new report says.

Wellington, June 3 NZPA - A review of pharmacy recalls will start next week and be completed in a month, Health Minister Tony Ryall says. "There have been a number of recalls of medicines from pharmacists' shelves recently," he said today.

Wellington, June 2 NZPA - Rest home auditors will be required to be approved by an international agency under changes announced today. The new measure follows Ministry of Health auditing of rest home auditors over the past six months.

Wellington, May 21 NZPA - Health Minister Tony Ryall is defending claims the extra health funding announced in yesterday's budget is way short of what is needed and will place the health system under extreme pressure.

Wellington, May 5 NZPA - A bowel cancer screening pilot costing $24 million over the next four years will be funded in the May 20 budget, Health Minister Tony Ryall said today.

Wellington, May 3 NZPA - The new health and disability commissioner is Anthony Hill, currently a deputy director-general at the Ministry of Health, the Government announced today. Health Minister Tony Ryall said Mr Hill would start his new role in July after 15 years in the ministry.