46099 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

46099 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter January to March 2024 to ‘Develop new, joined-up pathways to facilitate rapid diagnosis of suspected cancer, beginning in primary care to support equitable access to cancer diagnostic and treatment options’ under section 2.3 ‘Mate pukupuku | People with cancer’ within Te Whatu Ora’s Te Pae Tata: Interim New Zealand Health Plan 2022?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that during the January to March 2024 quarter, the lung cancer pathway, which provides direct access to CT, was signed off. Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) for Symptomatic also commenced, which triages patients who are on the non-urgent waitlist or referred for colonoscopy.