The foundation asked for $6.4 million over four years in Budget 2026 to fund two regional pilots for the early detection screening of prostate cancer.
Photo: Supplied/Unsplash
The Prostate Cancer Foundation says the decision not to fund a screening pilot programme will cause more men to die.
The foundation asked for $6.4 million over four years in Budget 2026 to fund two regional pilots for the early detection screening of prostate cancer.
President Danny Bedingfield told RNZ that more than 4000 men are diagnosed with the disease each year, while 700 die from it.
The amount that the Prostate Cancer Foundation asked for was a drop in the bucket of multi-billion-dollar investment in health, he said.
“I would love to use the word disappointed. In fact, I’m more than disappointed. I’m absolutely gutted,” Bedingfield said.
Bedingfield said 84 percent of New Zealanders support the development of a prostate cancer screening programme, according to an independent poll of 1000 eligible voters.
The foundation had already done all the costing, research and planning, Bedingfield said.
The screening programme would have a dedicated national unit to call men in for blood tests and then monitor them, he said.
“That’s all we really need to start saving hundreds of lives.”
The case for action was overwhelming, he said.
“The government continues to say it is committed to improving cancer outcomes, yet once again prostate cancer has been left behind. Everyone acknowledges that the earlier cancer is detected, the better the clinical outcomes and the better the survival rates.
“These are fathers, husbands, brothers, sons, workmates and friends.”
Their lives matter, he said.
“We have two simple questions for the government: why does cancer specific to men continue to be overlooked, and what exactly is the barrier to finally getting a prostate cancer screening pilot underway?”
The assertion that treating too many men, or overtreating caused more harm than good was “absolute rubbish”, he said.
“I just can’t understand why they haven’t done it.”
Minister open to programme ‘where it makes sense’
The Minister has asked the Ministry of Health to look into the early detection screening pilot programme.
Simeon Brown told RNZ he wanted to see a real improvement for men affected by prostate cancer as the Minister of Health.
He will look to progress the programme “where it makes sense” and had asked his officials at the Ministry to develop options.
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