NZ bowel screening plan won't benefit Māori - cancer expert

A cancer specialist says a national bowel screening programme will widen already unacceptable health disparities between Māori and non-Māori New Zealanders. At least 1200 New Zealanders die from bowel cancer a year, and screening is being rolled out to everyone aged 60 to 74 to offer early detection and save lives. But, some Māori cancer doctors say screening will benefit non-Māori more, and they want officials to consider screening Māori from 50. An Auckland cancer specialist, George Laking, told health correspondent Karen Brown it must be considered.