3796 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

3796 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress has been made in the last quarter (October to December 2023) to ‘Implement national early detection programmes for priority cancers’ under Outcome 4: New Zealanders have better cancer survival, supportive care and end-of-life care, as part of the New Zealand Cancer Action Plan 2019 – 2029?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: As the Member will be aware, this Government has announced expansion of breast cancer screening to women up to age 74. Health agencies have commenced work to prepare for implementation of this screening extension. Te Aho o Te Kahu - Cancer Control Agency have worked with Health New Zealand to prepare for implementation of an updated national list of evidence-based indications that clinicians use to initiate direct referrals for publicly funded PET-CT scans.