Health Minister Tony Ryall has confirmed a $5.6 million school health programmes review for decile 1 and 2 high schools and alternative education pupils.
Southern District Health Board acting funding and finance general manager David Dickson said school health programmes worth annually $60,000 in Otago and $113,000 in Southland were affected.
Otago had no decile 1 or 2 high schools but funding was directed to alternative education.
In Southland, as well as alternative education, Aurora College (decile 2), Te Wharekura o Arowhenua (decile 2), and Murihiku Young Parents Learning Centre (decile 1) received funding.
"We do not anticipate that this [review] will have a major effect on the Southern DHB because our services are not large," Mr Dickson said.
Delivered by registered nurses, services included health, disability, and development checks for year 9 pupils; health promotion; individual appointments as required. The review would assist the DHB with its own planning processes, Mr Dickson said.
Labour health spokesman Grant Robertson feared the review was a precursor to cutting the services, and believed that would cost more money in the long run because the programmes picked up health problems early.
Disadvantaged young people were often otherwise unable to access health care, he said.
He believed Mr Ryall was focused on elective surgery targets, and had taken his "eye off the ball" with primary and preventive health.
However, through a spokeswoman, Mr Ryall said the review was similar to the audit of the B4 school checks. These were reviewed because of concerns about implementation, but retained.
"These are difficult financial times and that makes it even more important we make sure public health programmes are delivering what they are intended to deliver, as we did with B4 school checks," Mr Ryall said.
