Health Minister Tony Ryall says Government health funding remains tight and signalled a 2.5% spending increase in the next Budget.
Mr Ryall told a Commonwealth Fund symposium on health care in the United States recently that the Government is committed to increasing health funding despite tough economic times.
But he said that since 2009 the country has moved away from annual health spending increases of some 9% to 10% as that was clearly unsustainable.
There would be an increase of 2.5% in the next Budget, similar to this year's 2.6% increase in operational spending on health.
Mr Ryall also said the role of pharmacists will be significantly expanded in future, following an agreement with family doctors to work together more closely.
