July 24, 2024
Bowel Cancer New Zealand (NZ) is pleased to learn the National Bowel Screening Programme has
distributed over two million home-screening kits across Aotearoa, picking up 2,495 cancers.
However, the charity is concerned about the extremely slow screening rollout to 50 years for Māori
and Pasifika. The government announced this initiative would be launched and trialled in selected
regions in the latter half of 2022 with a more extensive rollout from July 2023.
Funding of $36 million was announced in Budget 22 to lower the eligible start age for bowel
screening from 60 to 50 years for Māori and Pacific people to address a health inequity. So,
questions are being raised on why Te Whatu Ora Waikato, Te Whatu Ora Tairāwhiti, and Te Whatu
Ora Midcentral are the only regional health authorities inviting Māori and Pasifika from 50.
Professor Sue Crengle, a Bowel Cancer NZ medical advisor, says, “It’s extremely disappointing that in
over 18 months, there have only been three districts screening Māori and Pasifika from 50.”
A higher proportion of bowel cancer occurs in Māori and Pacific peoples before they reach 60
(58% Māori females vs. 27% non-Māori females, and 52% Māori males vs. 29% non-Māori).
Health Minister Shane Reti said, “When you start particular sub-sections of a screening programme,
there are particular requirements you have to have. It’s different from actually doing a nationwide
rollout. So, we’re still learning, still understanding where the sweet spot for screening for Māori and
Pasifika is particularly.”
Bowel Cancer NZ is critical of the Minister of Health’s statement since the government has
previously outlined it would trial how best to achieve a high participation rate from May 2022 to July
2023.
Crengle says, “Bowel Cancer NZ wants to know whether Te Whatu Ora: Health New Zealand plans to
complete this rollout urgently or whether it was just a token effort in three regions. Action is needed
as far too many Māori and Pasifika are dying that could have a fighting chance if they were screened
from 50.”
A clear timeline and accountability are needed from Te Whatu Ora: Health New Zealand to prevent
this health inequity from continuing.