New Zealand’s Health Minister, Dr Shane Reti, has announced that all residents of the country will now have equal access to PET-CT scans, regardless of where they live. Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora has approved funding for an updated set of criteria that will allow for an additional 1,000 publicly funded PET-CT scans per year.
Dr Reti emphasized that this is a significant development for those who may be affected by cancer, as increased access to diagnostic imaging is crucial. PET-CT scans are typically provided by the private sector, with many patients referred and funded by Health New Zealand.
The updated criteria, developed by the Cancer Control Agency with input from a specialty project and radiology group, are supported by international evidence-based PET-CT guidelines. This will enable more people to have access to this diagnostic tool.
PET-CT scans are particularly important for diagnosing conditions like cancer, as they are more sensitive than other imaging tests and can provide more detailed information to guide treatment decisions.
Dr Reti highlighted that this is a significant step towards ensuring equal access to diagnostic technology across New Zealand. For instance, previously, men in the South Island had to pay for prostate PET-CT scans, while men in most of the North Island did not. The new criteria will eliminate such disparities.
The increased access to PET-CT scans is expected to cost about $3 million per year. The updated criteria will be implemented across the country by mid-March. Health New Zealand is also working on creating more opportunities to standardize access to treatment tools, in order to address long-standing healthcare delivery issues.
