National Programme distributes two million home bowel screening kits

Consultation began on Friday for the first two targeted cancer treatments, including one for colorectal cancer.

The National Bowel Screening Programme has reached a significant milestone, distributing two million home bowel screening kits across the country, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.

“This programme, which began in 2017, has detected 2,495 cancers as of June 2024. A third of these were at an early stage, where there is a greater than 90 percent chance of five-year survival,” said Dr Reti.

Almost two-and-a-half-thousand New Zealanders have benefitted from the programme, which has also identified thousands of pre-cancerous polyps – growths in the bowel that can become cancerous if left untreated.

“Our Government is absolutely focused on improving cancer outcomes for New Zealanders. The National Bowel Screening Programme is evidence that screening really works. However, screening is only one part of improving outcomes for New Zealanders with cancer,” Dr Reti added.

The Government has set a target that 90 percent of patients receive cancer management within 31 days of the decision to treat. Recently, a $604 million boost to Pharmac’s budget was announced, funding up to 26 cancer treatments for various types of cancer, including bowel cancer, fulfilling a promise made by National prior to the election.

Consultation began on Friday for the first two targeted cancer treatments, including one for colorectal cancer.

To mark the screening programme milestone, Dr Reti visited the facility where the tests are packaged and distributed and met with a survivor whose bowel cancer was detected with a home screening kit.

The two million screening kits milestone follows the completion of the nationwide rollout in June 2022. All eligible people aged 60 to 74 should now have been invited to take part in free bowel screening.

“Early detection of bowel cancer saves lives and 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,” said Dr Reti.

“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 is the second most common cancer in New Zealand. Around 3,300 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year and more than 1,200 die from it annually. People are invited to take part in free bowel screening through the National Bowel Screening Programme every two years from the age of 60 to 74.