Health experts are renewing calls for a national lung cancer screening programme, warning that too many New Zealanders — particularly Māori — are being diagnosed only after the disease has reached an advanced stage.
Lung cancer remains the country’s deadliest cancer, claiming around 1,800 lives every year. Despite those figures, New Zealand has yet to introduce a nationwide screening programme, leaving it behind countries such as Australia and England, where screening initiatives are already helping to identify the disease earlier and improve survival rates.
Medical oncologist and lung cancer specialist Dr Rajiv Kumar says early detection remains one of the most effective ways to save lives, particularly among communities facing the highest burden of disease.
For many whānau, the first sign of lung cancer is often a persistent cough that refuses to go away. By the time symptoms become severe enough to seek medical attention, the cancer may already have spread, reducing treatment options and survival chances.
Māori continue to be disproportionately affected by lung cancer, with rates of diagnosis and mortality significantly higher than those experienced by non-Māori. Health advocates say a national screening programme could help address longstanding inequities in cancer outcomes.
Low-dose CT scanning has become the international standard for lung cancer screening among people considered to be at high risk. Research overseas has shown screening can significantly reduce deaths by detecting cancers before symptoms appear.
Despite growing support from clinicians, researchers and advocacy groups, progress towards a national screening programme has been slow. Funding pressures, health system capacity and competing priorities have all been cited as barriers to implementation.
Dr Kumar says screening programmes must be designed in a way that reaches those most at risk, including Māori communities, rural populations and people who may face barriers accessing healthcare services.
Health advocates also stress the importance of raising awareness among tāne Māori, who are among the groups most affected by lung cancer. They say recognising symptoms early and seeking medical advice promptly can make a critical difference.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation and other health organisations continue to advocate for a nationally coordinated approach, arguing that lives are being lost while New Zealand waits to catch up with international best practice.
As calls for action grow louder, supporters say the question is no longer whether lung cancer screening works, but how much longer New Zealand can afford to wait before making it available nationwide.
