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The National Bowel Screening Programme has reached a remarkable milestone, having distributed two million home bowel screening kits nationwide. Health Minister Dr. Shane Reti announced the achievement today, highlighting the programme’s significant impact since its inception in 2017.
“This programme has detected 2,495 cancers as of June 2024, with a third of these at an early stage, where there is a greater than 90 percent chance of five-year survival,” Dr. Reti stated. The programme has not only benefitted nearly 2,500 New Zealanders by identifying cancer but also discovered thousands of pre-cancerous polyps, which can develop into cancer if untreated.
Dr. Reti emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing cancer outcomes for New Zealanders, noting that the National Bowel Screening Programme is a testament to the effectiveness of early detection. He pointed out that screening is a crucial component of the broader strategy to improve cancer care and outcomes.
The government has set a target for 90 percent of patients to receive cancer management within 31 days of the decision to treat. In line with this goal, a recent $604 million boost to Pharmac’s budget was announced, allowing for funding of up to 26 cancer treatments for various types of cancer, including bowel cancer. This funding fulfills a pre-election promise made by the National party.
As part of the celebration of the screening programme milestone, Dr. Reti visited the facility where the tests are packaged and distributed. He also met with a survivor whose cancer was detected through a home screening kit, underscoring the programme’s life-saving potential.
The distribution of the two million screening kits follows the completion of the nationwide rollout in June 2022. All eligible individuals aged 60 to 74 have now been invited to participate in free bowel screening.
“Early detection of bowel cancer saves lives. It’s heartening to hear that over a third of the cancers detected were at an early stage, where they can often be successfully treated, as was the case for the person I met today,” Dr. Reti remarked. He also urged the public to take advantage of the screening programme, noting that “as a GP, I strongly encourage people to take part in bowel screening – it can help detect bowel cancer before you have any symptoms. Bowel screening is simple, quick, and free, and could save your life.”
Bowel cancer remains the second most common cancer in New Zealand, with around 3,300 people diagnosed and more than 1,200 fatalities annually. The National Bowel Screening Programme invites eligible individuals to participate in free bowel screening every two years from the age of 60 to 74.
This milestone marks a significant step forward in the fight against bowel cancer, demonstrating the power of early detection and proactive health measures.
