New Zealand First has today introduced a Member's Bill to establish a four-year pilot prostate cancer screening programme in two regions - one in the North Island and one in the South Island.
The "Health (Prostate Cancer Screening Services) Amendment Bill" will provide free, structured screening for at-risk men, using PSA testing, MRI scans, and targeted biopsies where needed.
"This is about saving lives," says New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.
"Over 4,000 men are diagnosed each year, and more than 700 die - we can and must do better. Too many cases are detected late, when treatment options are limited and outcomes are poorer."
According to NZIER, extending this kind of pilot programme from four years to a longer-term twenty years, would return over $100 million in health system savings and deliver over $500 million in lifetime health gains.
The petitions committee has also previously recommended implementing a funded, risk-based, equitable prostate cancer testing regime in New Zealand.
"This is commonsense, evidence-based policy that will protect Kiwi men and their families," says Mr Peters.
