Public Health Advisory Committee

Public Health Advisory Committee

Te Ropo Tohutohu i te Hauora Tumatanui

The Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC) is a statutory sub-committee of the National Health Committee (NHC). It provides the New Zealand Minister of Health with independent advice on public health issues.

On this website you can find out more about us, including our work programme, health impact assessment, news, media releases and download PHAC publications.

News and Updates

5 Sep 2008 is the 30th anniversary of Alma Ata, a landmark event in the history of health policy.
In 1946 the World Health Organisation's definition of health declared health to be 'more than the absence of disease'. This view was expanded with respect to primary health care at the Alma Ata conference in 1978. Participants saw the need to recognise the many dimensions of wellbeing and agreed that primary health care should be people-focussed, informed by principles including accessibility and participation.

In this anniversary year, the work programme of the Public Health Advisory Committee continues to reflect the spirit of Alma Ata. Through projects addressing concerns such as Child Health as well as the health implications of the Urban Environment, the Committee's work continues to follow the WHO in seeing disease and impairment as a necessary but not sufficient focus. Rather we see health as connected to the quest for equity in opportunities and outcomes, and the development of a just society.

17 Apr Review on International Evidence Linking Health and the Urban Built Environment
This review will discuss the international evidence in relation to the health effects of the urban environment.

17 Apr Review on Healthy Urban Planning
This review will provide a brief introduction to the modern development of the Healthy Cities approach and healthy urban planning and identify the key features and methods that need to be developed to make it successful.

View full list of news and updates

Page last updated: 5 September 2008

Work Programme

Respond to questions on:

Urban environment and health