The Health Minister says higher testing rates are key to better bowel cancer outcomes.

The Government is lowering eligibility for free screening to 58 from late this year.

It's using funding set aside from the previous Government's plan to lower screening for Māori and Pasifika - who have worse early onset death rates - to 50.

Simeon Brown says this will save more lives - but he explained they'll still pay attention to those communities. 

"We're also going to be doing a lot of work with Health NZ to focus on increasing the rates of testing amongst those Māori and Pasifika communities." 

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The Health Minister says higher testing rates are key to better bowel cancer outcomes.
The Government is lowering eligibility for free screening to 58 from late this year.
It's using funding set aside from the previous Government's plan to lower screening for Māori and Pasifika - who have worse early onset death rates - to 50.
Simeon Brown says this will save more lives - but he explained they'll still&nbsp;pay attention to those communities.&nbsp;
"We're also going to be doing a lot of work with Health NZ to focus on increasing the rates of testing amongst those Māori and Pasifika communities."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Simeon Brown: Health Minister on the bowel cancer screening age of eligibility being lowered

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1a41b1f7-03d0-4d4c-a80a-b298004fc9ba/transcript