Concern bowel cancer waiting list will grow

Cancer patients will face delays for chemotherapy and radiation services if the Government does not commit to funding treatment of cancers detected by the national bowel screening programme, the Cancer Society says.

Minister of Health Jonathan Coleman this week announced the launch of the long-awaited screening programme in Hutt and Wairarapa district health boards (DHBS) as part of a phased rollout across the country over three years.

Every year about 3000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with bowel cancer and more than 1200 die from it.

‘‘Once screening is available nationwide it’s expected that up to 700 cancers will be detected annually,’’ Coleman said.

Funding committed for the programme does not include treatment of any cancers it detects.

Concerns have been raised by Cancer Society medical director Dr Chris Jackson and Bowel Cancer New Zealand about resourcing for the programme.

The estimated annual cost has not been revealed by the Ministry of Health, despite the programme’s launch.

‘‘It is not appropriate for the ministry to provide this information at this time, as it is still under active consideration,’’ a spokeswoman said.

Last year, DHBS provided their estimated costs for running the programme but the figures were redacted in documents released to Labour under the Official Information Act. The estimated cost of the programme was also redacted in a 2016-17 business case published on the ministry’s website.

Former Minister of Health Tony Ryall said in 2010 that a national screening programme would cost about $60 million a year. In budgets 2016 and 2017, the Government confirmed it would invest $77.8m into the programme over four years. The Ministry of Health said the money was for operational costs.

Jackson, a medical oncologist, said he was concerned how DHBS would cope with the extra demand.

‘‘It’s part of the overall pattern of piecemeal funding . . . and the funding never covers the entire cost and DHB clinicians are just told to get on with it and do the best with what they’ve got.’’

Patients would lose out if funding was not adequate, he said. ‘‘I think you will see the waiting lists getting longer.’’