The Clutha-Southland MP was on home turf on Friday speaking to the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce (QCC) about the Government's 2011 Budget and the state of the nation's economy.
A report by the Prime Minister's chief science adviser Prof Sir Peter Gluckman released last week backs the Wakatipu Sexual Health and Family Planning Clinic's concerns that axeing free consultations for youth could increase the incidence of teenage pregnancy.
The clinic was free for all New Zealanders aged under 25 until the Southern Primary Health Organisation cut funding in January. The Queenstown Medical Centre had subsidised the service for enrolled patients and high school pupils, twice a week, but did not fund a doctor.
Last month, the clinic began charging for consultations, including $10 for high school pupils.
The Gluckman report found New Zealand had a high rate of sexually transmitted diseases and had teenage pregnancy rates six times higher than in the Netherlands.
Although "not familiar with the details" of the report, Mr English said there was no evidence access to free sexual health services made young people more comfortable than when visiting the local GP.
The Budget allotted $7.3 million of reprioritised funding for four years to "drive more effective, more efficient services for sexual and reproductive health", Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia said.
The Budget would refocus resources "towards highest-risk groups; in particular rangatahi or young Maori and Pasifika people" and would evaluate school-based sex education because "international evidence highlights the need to take into account the diverse needs and experiences of young people", Mrs Turia said.
