Qualified political support for early detection pilot of prostate cancer

“Going into next month’s election, New Zealand First, Te Pati Māori and the Green party all support the early detection pilot and other measures proposed by the Prostate Cancer Foundation," Prostate Cancer Foundation President Danny Bedingfield said today.

"ACT and Labour give qualified support. National has committed to a rapid review of radiology eg MRI and workforce components in the survey to improve prostate cancer diagnosis and management and qualified support in other areas.

"This is good progress for mens health.”

This follows the presentation to Parliament of the 30,000 plus signature petition of Kristine Hayward in June, and various engagements with political parties, seeking the implementation of an early detection program for prostate cancer in New Zealand, as happens for other cancers such as breast, colorectal and cervical cancers.

“Men’s health matters. Whatever cancer you die from, you're still dead. Everyone agrees that early detection of any cancer leads to better clinical outcomes and saves lives."

The Prostate Cancer Foundation sent a questionnaire to the parties asking them if they supported:

1. Initial pilot in at least 2 areas for all men over 50, or those men over 45 with a family history of prostate cancer, and those men over 40 who have the gene variant BRCA2.
2. Funded availability to MRI for all men in the public sector as part of the diagnostic pathway.
3. Funded access to trans-perineal targeted biopsy for all men in the public sector.
4. Funded access to PSMA-PET scans to all men in the public sector so men with advanced disease do not go through unnecessary radical treatment.
5. Leverage existing programmes (www.timetoscreen.nz) technology and other infrastructure for Bowel, breast and cervical cancers.

“We are proposing the first phase would be an early detection pilot in Waitematā and Tairāwhiti. The implementation of a pilot scheme would be a low risk, sensible way to learn, and then scale-up from there. And our indicative numbers suggest this is also a low-cost option with significant upside.

Work by NZIER indicates this pilot would require an investment of around $1.6 million a year ($6.4 million over four years). The NZIER report also indicates the pilot could potentially be expected to return over $100 million to the health system in cost savings and generate over half a billion in health gains for Waitematā and Tairāwhiti men over their lifetimes. Nearly $1 million in personal income loss to working age men could also potentially be expected to be avoided.

“More than 4000 men are diagnosed and over 700 die from prostate cancer every year. That’s more than twice the road toll. Current opportunistic PSA testing results in inefficient resource use and inequitable outcomes. Overseas work suggest that an early detection program could half the number of deaths. That’s around 350 lives.

“We think that’s a worthwhile policy for our politicians to support. Voters need to know which parties support men’s health in this way.

Winston Peters, NZ First Leader says that “Prostate cancer early detection is just plain common sense” and his party supports all the initiatives if they are in the post-election government.

John Tamihere, President of Te Pati Māori, said their party “supports all the recommendations made on the part of the Prostate Cancer Society in regard to lifting Prostate Cancer matters into a Population Screening methodology akin to Cervical Screening Programs”.

Green Party Health spokesperson Ricardo March said “We are happy in principle with the policies outlined being publicly funded health services”

In answer to most of the questions the Labour Party stated “Yes in principle as funding and workforce allows.”

ACT has also given qualified support stating, "Unfortunately, ACT has not included costing for this trial in its alternative budget re-released earlier on the 21st of September 2023. Nonetheless, this does not rule out the possibility of this initiative being included in future ACT budgets."

And Nationals very recent announcement states they, “will conduct a rapid review of the public health system to determine investment options for the delivery of modern prostate cancer management in New Zealand, including better access to ultrasound and MRI, information technology needs, and workforce shortages

“If we can get full political support and get early detection implemented, it simply means better clinical outcomes and less dead men.

“There has not been much discussion on men’s health in this campaign. But now is the time for political parties to commit to some firm action if we are serious about making a difference.

"An initial investment of $1.6 million a year for a focussed pilot is not a lot to ask for to save men’s lives and improve their clinical outcomes. Men’s lives matter too,” Mr Bedingfield concluded.