The Cancer Society of New Zealand (CSNZ) is calling for an immediate moratorium on the Government's decision to halt the bowel screening age extension programme until full clarity is provided.
CSNZ is deeply concerned that the Government appears to have reversed the Budget 2022 commitment1 to lower the bowel screening age to 50 for Māori and Pacific peoples.
Recent communications from Te Whatu Ora/Health New Zealand to health organisations titled ‘Completion of Waikato District two-year bowel screening age-range extension learning pilot’ states that Māori and Pacific peoples will no longer be able to start the national bowel screening programme at age 50.
Cancer Society Chief Executive Nicola Coom says “The Budget 2022 funding was clear that this was planned to roll out nationwide from July 2023. We are incredibly concerned that not only has this roll out not happened, but it also now appears to have been completely abandoned.”
Bowel screening saves lives, by detecting cancer at an early stage when it is more likely to be successfully treated. Most Māori and Pacific people who get bowel cancer are diagnosed before the age of 60, which underscores the importance of ensuring equitable access to screening. Budget 2022 aimed to address this disparity by making the programme more inclusive and fairer for all.
“We urge the Government to revisit this shortsighted decision and at the very least provide immediate clarification on the rationale behind it,” says Ms Coom. “We also ask that Christopher Luxon delivers on his pre-election commitment to lower the bowel screening age2 and address inequities.
CSNZ stands with its sector colleagues in calling for a moratorium on the withdrawal of the bowel screening age extension programme until the Government provides clear and transparent justification for its position.
References
2 https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/02/04/calls-for-bowel-cancer-screening-age-to-be-lowered/
For more information, please contact
Maria De Cort | Senior Communications Advisor | Cancer Society of New Zealand
maria@cancer.org.nz
021 991 952