Coalition reforms of the NHS system pose a "significant risk" of widening health inequalities even further, a powerful committee has warned.
MPs raised concerns about the plans for a "health premium" - funding allocated to local authorities for good results - warning it will "undermine" the ability of the areas struggling most to tackle problems.
In a report, MPs also said they were "unconvinced" that the Government's "responsibility deal" - voluntary agreements with the industry covering promotions and labelling - would tackle obesity and alcohol abuse.
And they criticised the Government for failing to provide any detailed explanation about the funding or responsibilities of Public Health England (PHE), which will take over the running of a number of services. That "confusion" is "undermining confidence" and making NHS planning impossible, they said.
The report on the Government's public health policy was produced by the Commons Health Select Committee.
Among the recommendations, MPs called for the Government to investigate giving local authorities extra powers to allow them to extend smoking bans in their areas or set a minimum price per unit for alcohol.
Chairman Stephen Dorrell called for PHE to be visibly and operationally independent of ministers.
He added: "We are concerned about the so-called 'health premium'. The effect of this policy appears to be to target resources towards those areas which have made greatest progress with their public health challenges and away from areas which face the greatest outstanding problems."
Jo Webber, deputy director of policy at the NHS Confederation, which represents health service groups, said most experts "recognise the direction of travel as correct" but there are "serious concerns over the policies being used to deliver the new system".
A Department of Health spokesman said: "The Government has made public health a priority. That's why, for the first time ever, we are placing a duty on all parts of our health system to reduce health inequalities."