Public health doctors are raising concerns about what they call government “overreach” after being instructed that all public statements must be approved at a national level.
The directive, delivered by National Public Health Service director Dr Nick Chamberlain, has sparked fears that doctors will no longer be able to speak freely about critical health issues in their regions.
Medical officers of health, who are trained doctors specialising in public health, have traditionally provided independent advice on matters such as alcohol policy and fast-food regulations.
However, Health Minister Simeon Brown has clarified that he wants them to focus on “technical advice” and immunisation, not advocacy. “Writing submissions opposing a fast-food restaurant in Wānaka, as Health NZ did last year, is not what New Zealanders expect from their health service,” he said.
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) warns that restricting doctors’ ability to speak publicly could breach their employment contracts, which protect their right to offer expert opinions. Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall called the move “a step backwards,” arguing that “New Zealand will be better off when there is open debate about health risks.”
Doctors say the changes, combined with cost-cutting and government scrutiny, are creating a “chilling effect” in the public health sector, with many reluctant to speak on the record out of fear for their jobs.
Centrist Ltd.