Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, has dismissed an article in the Daily Telegraph, saying it did not represent his or the organisation's view.
He was quoted as saying financial concerns were "getting in the way" of the good health of many people and suggesting that doctors surgeries should offer help in this respect as well as medically.
The comments came from a weekly article Mr Selbie writes in his role as chief executive but he insisted that he had only been highlighting a Citizens' Advice Bureau scheme and not advocating that GPs give financial advice.

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Mr Selbie said: "In my weekly Friday message on 25 April I highlighted an interesting and innovative partnership scheme between Derbyshire County Council, their Clinical Commissioning Groups (groups of GPs who commission health services) and the local Citizens' Advice Bureau.
"Unfortunately the story in The Telegraph completely misrepresents what I said. PHE is in no way calling for GPs to "offer financial advice from their surgeries"."
In his original message he said: "We know that not having enough money to live on, or somewhere decent to live are barriers to people's good health and wellbeing and here we have the voluntary sector, council and CCGs working together in a way which means people have support through early intervention advice services and avoiding the potential need for expensive health care later on."
The scheme he referred to was that run by the Citizens Advice Bureau in 98 of 102 GP surgeries in Derbyshire.
Doctors there 'prescribe' financial check-ups from Citizens Advice to help people get on top of their finances.
Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy said: "Free independent financial advice can, like the flu jab, get fit initiatives and stop smoking services, help prevent wider health issues.
"Money advice stops financial problems escalating and limits the impact on people's mental and physical health.
"Health problems that limit how much people can work or if they are able to work at all, can have an devastating impact on people's finances.
"It's important that, alongside treatment, advice is available to make sure people are getting all of the benefits available and don't end up in financial crisis."