Nearly every cancer patient will have to receive treatment within 62 days under an ambitious three-year plan outlined by the Government today.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman released the planning document for 2015-2018 at Wellington Hospital this afternoon.
At the heart of the plan was a faster cancer treatment programme, originally announced during the election campaign by former health minister Tony Ryall.
It would create a new national health target for 90 per cent of patients to receive their first cancer treatment within 62 days of being referred "with high suspicion of cancer".
An initial target of 85 per cent would be set for July 2016.
The 62-day deadline was considered the international "gold standard" for cancer treatment.
At present, around 60 per cent of cancer patients were treated within this period, meaning health services would have to quickly ramp up their rate of treatment to meet the new benchmark.
All cancer patients should also expect to see a specialist within two weeks after an initial diagnosis by a GP.
The previous national health target was for all patients to wait no longer than four weeks for radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
The new target was broader and would require people with suspected cancer to get faster access to all services, from diagnostic tests to surgery or other treatment.
Dr Coleman said DHBs were already introducing new initiatives to support the 62-day target, such as specialised nurses for suspected bowel cancer patients.
He said an $11 million, four-year fund would support DHB projects which were focused on the faster cancer goal.
The planning document said cancer was the biggest killer in New Zealand, accounting for nearly a third of all deaths, and disproportionately affecting Maori and poorer families.
Around $500 million was spent a year on diagnosing and treating cancer, which amounted to 6 per cent of the public health budget.
These costs were expected to swell by 20 per cent by 2021 due to a growing, ageing population.
The three-year plan also outlined initiatives for cancer prevention and early detection such as cutting smoking rates further.
By Isaac Davison of the New Zealand Herald
