Government says cervical screening will be free from March next year
The New Zealand government announced that cervical cancer screening will be free for all eligible women aged 25 to 69 starting March 2027. This policy is part of a broader plan to eliminate cervical cancer in the country by 2040.
Why it matters
Removing financial barriers to preventative healthcare is a significant public health initiative aimed at reducing long-term disease mortality rates.
The government says screening for cervical cancer will be free from March next year.
Health Minister Simeon Brown and Women's Minister Nicola Grigg made the announcement on Tuesday.
Brown said from 1 March, 2027, all eligible women aged 25 to 69 would have free screenings - implementing a recommendation from successive Parliamentary Reviews since 2018.
He said cervical cancer was one of the most preventable diseases, but cost could be a barrier to screening, with around 55 percent of eligible women now paying anywhere from $35 to more than $100 for appointments.
The policy would make screenings free for an estimated additional 786,000 women, Brown said.
Screening is currently free for Māori and Pacific women aged 25 to 69, Community Services Card holders, and women who have never been screened or are overdue.
Grigg also released the Government's Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan 2026 to 2040.
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