Most political parties silent on additional breast screening for women at higher risk
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is pressuring political parties to commit to funding additional breast screening for high-risk women with dense breasts. While some parties have responded, others remain silent, highlighting a gap in public health policy regarding cancer detection.
Why it matters
The debate over breast density screening directly impacts public health outcomes and the effectiveness of national cancer prevention programs.
Four out of seven political parties have failed to answer whether they would fund additional breast screening for women at higher risk – even as more women come forward with stories of cancers missed by mammograms.
Recent reporting by The Press found growing political support for routinely telling women their breast density. Breast Cancer Foundation NZ followed up by asking ACT, Greens, Labour, National, NZ First, Opportunity and Te Pāti Māori a critical next question: will parties explore funding additional screening for women identified as being at higher risk?
Labour, Opportunity and Te Pāti Māori responded:
Breast density also featured in the NZ Herald leaders’ debate on 14 October. Asked whether women screened through the public system should be told if they have dense breasts, both Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon said they didn’t know enough about the issue to make a commitment.
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