A postcode lottery barrier has been removed for a key test in detecting some cancers and their spread, the Government says.
The boost to preventative healthcare is expected to cost taxpayers $3 million a year and is scheduled to be in place by mid-March.
Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora has approval for about 1000 more PET-CT scans to be publicly-funded each year.
The funding provided for an updated national set of criteria.
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti said the change meant New Zealanders would have the same access to the scans no matter where they lived.
He said it was significant for New Zealanders who might be impacted by cancer. "Increasing access to diagnostic imaging is vital.
“Health NZ has approved and will fund the National PET-CT indication list and criteria which has been updated and developed by the Cancer Control Agency with clinical input from a specialty project and radiology group."
He said international evidence-based PET-CT guidelines support more people being provided access to the diagnostic tool.
“PET-CT scans are important for diagnosis, especially when cancer may have spread. They are more sensitive than other more conventional imaging tests and can better inform treatment decisions for some cancers, including prostate cancer."
Reti said it was a "great step forward" in ensuring all New Zealanders had the same access to diagnostic technology that helped clinicians determine the best treatment options.
He said people in the South Island have had to pay for prostate PET-CT scans that those in most of the North Island didn’t pay for.
The changes to increasing access to PET-CT scans were estimated to cost about $3 million per year and the updated criteria would be in place across the country by mid-March.
PET-CT scans were provided by the private sector with many patients referred from and funded by Health New Zealand.
A statement from Reti's office said Health New Zealandwas working on providing more opportunities to develop and deliver standardised access to treatment tools to help remove long standing issues to delivering health care services.
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