[ad_1]
Performing just one additional colonoscopy per week at each district health board would offer a fair bowel exam for Maori, says one expert.
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) joins calls for the government to lower the age for bowel cancer screening in Maori, saying the national program does not provide the same level of health benefits for Maori. Maori than non-Maori.
The program, which is being rolled out nationwide, offers screening to people 60 and older every two years.
“Maori have a higher incidence of bowel cancer between the ages of 50 and 59 compared to non-Maori,” said RACS indigenous health committee chair Dr. Maxine Ronald.
READ MORE:
* Will Maori health equity put more pressure on the system?
* Concerns increase for those who will not be able to get screened for cancer at alert level 3
* Bowel cancer dies in young activist and father of four children
* What’s next to address health after the new cancer agency?
“The age range of the bowel screening program is deliberately designed not to detect bowel cancer in a large proportion of Maori and is perfectly suited to perpetuate bowel cancer inequalities in Maori.”
He called the Ministry of Health’s refusal to lower the age limit for Maori as “systemic and institutional racism.”
123rf
An additional colonoscopy per week by DHB would offer a fair bowel exam for Maori. (File image)
Ronald said the Cancer Control Agency advisory council, a number of think tanks had told the ministry the importance of lowering the minimum age to ensure fair bowel screening of Maori and Pasifika, and through broad participation and feedback. community, as well as your own data. showing the need for it.
“I would be hard-pressed to find a better current example of systemic and institutional racism, evidenced by inaction in the face of an evidence-based need, appropriately consulted and community-driven.”
The ministry has cited several reasons for not lowering the screening age, including pressure on colonoscopy resources, the focus on other screening programs such as lung cancer where Maori are significantly overrepresented, and invasive procedures that increase the risk of healthy people.
“The number of additional colonoscopies needed to lower the screening age for Maori and the Pacific is around 1,000 more per year, or an additional one per week per district health board,” he said.
Supplied
Dr. Maxine Ronald (Ngati Hine / Ngati Wai) is a Northland-based Surgeon General and Chair of the Indigenous Health Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
The data shows that Maori are overrepresented in cancer registries and overall mortality. The cancer registration rate for Maori is 430 per 100,000 people, compared to 320 per 100,000 for non-Maori. Cancer death rates are 188 per 100,000 Maori population, compared to 110 per 100,000 non-Maori population.
“This disparity cannot be explained by socioeconomic status, comorbidity, or consent to treatment as previously stated,” Ronalds said.
“Institutional racism is a known major determinant of health and is a leading cause of health inequalities between Maori and non-Maori in New Zealand.”
The ministry and health minister have been contacted for comment.
Health Ministry cancer services manager Dawn Wilson previously said the government recognized that inequality in health outcomes “remains pervasive.”
Move your ass
Liana and Simon Doull talk about why they support Bowel Cancer NZ’s Move Your Butt campaign.
