Every fourth year, the public health report is presented. The Ministry of Health and Care submits this to the Storting. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Directorate of Health have contributed documents and recommendations. – I am proud of what we present, Ingvild Kjerkol added during the press conference. The Minister of Health presents measures for the period 2023–2027. According to the minister, they will even out the social differences in health with this message. – The differences in our country are too great, also when it comes to health. We take measures that promote health in the entire population, regardless of income and background, says Minister of Health and Care Ingvild Kjerkol. Tobacco use and unhealthy diet are highlighted as the most important causes of illness and early death. The public health report also focuses on mental health, where the minister says that there are large social differences. Public health is about all of us, according to Kjerkol. – It’s about the mother of two who discards fish and vegetables because she has to turn over every penny. It is about the grandfather with severe COPD because he is addicted to tobacco. PRESS CONFERENCE: Ingvild Kjerkol presented, among other things, a new tobacco strategy. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB New tobacco strategy According to the Minister of Health, around 5,000 people die in Norway every year due to smoking. The government presents a new tobacco strategy in the public health report. Kjerkol has ambitions for children born after 2010 to become tobacco-free. – Children and young people are a top priority. Children should be protected against becoming addicted to tobacco and the health risks it entails, says Kjerkol. Therefore, they will come up with several measures that can prevent children and young people starting to use tobacco products. They will introduce: Smoking ban in private cars where children are passengers. Smoking is prohibited in outdoor playgrounds, sports areas and holding areas, as well as common areas in the apartment complex. Ban on online sales of tobacco products and e-cigarettes. Standardized packaging and ban on flavorings for e-cigarettes. National program for smoking cessation. Kjerkol also says that they are considering a smoking ban on outdoor dining, public beaches, parks and on festival grounds. She says that they have good experience with this in Finland and Sweden, among others. Marketing of unhealthy food The government will also initiate work to look at banning the marketing of unhealthy food and drink aimed at children and young people. They will also look at the gradual introduction of school meals for children and young people. They believe that introducing a healthy meal during the school day can also even out the differences in health. – In order to have a successful introduction of this in the long term, it is important to use knowledge and experience from both schools, school owners, pupils and supervisors. The government is putting that up to now, according to Kjerkol. In the public health report, measures are also proposed around mental health and quality of life. Studies show that young people with parents with low income and education often suffer psychologically. Before the summer, the government will present its own escalation plan for mental health. The Minister of Health will also introduce a vaccine offer for adults similar to the children’s vaccination programme. These are also measures to reduce differences, according to the Minister of Health. – Sensible Odd Herman Bjørnstad and his daughter Hedda Marie have kicked off the Easter holidays at Sjusjøen in Ringsaker. They are busy being active several times a week. Bjørnstad himself has recently stopped using snus and thinks several of Ingvild Kjerkol’s measures are positive. Among other things, the ban on smoking with children in the car. But he is unsure whether it is realistic for his daughter’s generation to become tobacco-free. – It is a step in the right direction. I’m not quite sure, but it’s good to try. ON A SKI TRIP: Odd Herman Bjørnstad and his daughter Hedda Marie are on a ski trip at Sjusjøen. Photo: Arne Sørenes / news Torill Ulvik Neeb also enjoys a ski trip in the sun on Lake Sjusjøen. She is preoccupied with the trim she gets on tour. Even she doesn’t know many people who smoke anymore. – If I see someone smoking outside the shop, I think: “that he dares”. Nevertheless, she is unsure of how big an effect a ban will have, and thinks it could make smoking more exciting for people. SKI TRIP: Torill Ulvik Neeb takes the ski trip as exercise and is preoccupied with public health. Photo: Arne Sørenes / news – A slap in the stomach LHL (formerly called the National Association for Heart and Lung Disease) is disappointed with the public health report that was presented and calls it a slap in the stomach. They believe there are far too few concrete measures. Secretary General, Frode Jahren believes the message pushes the problem forward in time. – We would have liked a healthy tax exchange, which makes healthy food cheaper and unhealthy food more expensive, stronger protection of children and young people against marketing and daily physical activity at school. What we get is further clarification, but the government should be praised for new measures against tobacco, Jahren writes in a press release. Health policy spokesperson for Rødt, Seher Aydar, also believes that the health minister should present even more concrete measures. And says public health is more than just smoking cessation. – As the government itself wrote in the report, we know that those with the worst means both have poorer health and visit doctors and dentists less often. Nevertheless, the report has a wide range of good measures for smoking cessation, but says nothing about reducing the deductibles or ensuring that everyone has access to dental care. It’s too weak. The cancer association had wanted more information about solariums. But they are happy that more people are getting help to quit smoking. – We know that more than half of those who smoke today want to quit. We are talking about over 150,000 people. In our neighboring countries, they already have good smoking cessation services, but we in Norway have until now been completely miserable at offering help to those who want to quit, says Secretary General of the Norwegian Cancer Society, Ingrid Stenstadvold Ross. – Defensive public health report Erlend Svardal Bøe, parliamentary representative for Høgre and member of the health and care committee, is not entirely satisfied with the public health report. – There are many measures here which are fine and which we can get behind, but it is a slightly defensive public health announcement. She could be a little more specific about loneliness, physical activity and, for example, vaccination in the population, says Bøe.
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The Minister of Health and Care presents the public health report – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
