The Government says they should be judged on health results, not the amount of money spent.

In yesterday's Budget, health got the biggest chunk, at $550 million each year for the next four years, adding up to $2.2 billion.

MORE: Major health spend in 2016 budget 

Labour said that's still not enough, as the sector is under-funded and needs $700 million a year.

Labour's Deputy Leader Annette King said the increased funding won't address the pressures facing the health system.

"The population will be growing in those four years and so will the ageing population. It doesn't even today, with the maximum amount they're putting in over those four years, meet those cost pressures."

But Health Minister Jonathan Coleman doesn't agree.

"We've actually been about delivering more operations, more doctors and nurses, more appointments - that's what we've done, and that's what we're going to continue to do."

The Budget set aside $39.3 million over four years for a National Bowel Screening Programme.

MORE: Budget 2016: $39 million set aside for national bowel screening programme 

Mr Coleman said the programme is likely to make the most immediate impact.

"The initial indications from the Waitemata pilot is that will save 700 lives every two years."

But Annette King said the programme is overdue and in the wrong place.

Ms King said a roll-out of such a programme was first announced by her party when in Government back in 2007.

She said it'll be 10 years from when David Cunliffe first announced it to when it might first start in the Hutt Valley and the Wairarapa.

"And it's unexplainable why you would start there when the highest incidents and the highest death rate of bowel cancer in New Zealand is in the southern part of New Zealand. Why would you not start where you could save the most lives?"

Professor Grant Schofield said people want to live long, healthy lives.

"That's going to require the Government to invest in our wellbeing not just fixing us up when we're sick."

He said when you consider the $16 billion that gets spent on health, it's not that much of an increase.

"It's barely a maintenance budget, except for the addition of the bowel screening programme which is great."