7. TARIANA TURIA (Co-Leader—Māori Party) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What new initiatives will the Government be introducing to respond to the report Unequal Impact, which indicates that Māori women have a 25 percent higher incidence of cancer rates, which is double that of non-Māori women?
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Acting Minister of Health) Link to this
One important element of this issue has been the uptake by Māori women of screening programmes provided for both breast and cervical cancer. The Government is now spending $73 million on screening programmes, which have seen mortality rates reduce for all women, including a downward trend in cervical cancer for Māori women. For example, the age-standardised cervical cancer death rate for Māori women from 1996 to 2003 decreased by 72 percent, as opposed to 35 percent for non-Māori. The Government is increasing access by Māori women to these lifesaving programmes by pilot programmes for community support services for Māori—both rural and urban—and expanding health promotion resources.
What explanation can the Minister give for BreastScreenAotearoa’s findings that as at December 2006 coverage of all eligible women aged 50 to 69 years was 61.7 percent, while for Māori eligible women it was 41.6 percent and for Pasifika eligible women it was 41.2 percent, and what will he do about such obvious discrimination?
I think I just advised the House that in relation to cervical cancer, for example, the rate of decline in incidence for Māori women is higher than that even for non-Māori women. Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates reveal a continuing improvement in the detection and treatment of cancer. Areas of New Zealand have breast cancer screening rates for Māori women of around 70 percent, which is world-leading for any indigenous population. The lessons from this success are being studied for rolling out throughout the country.
Barbara StewartWill the specific outcomes required of the New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy be changed to deal more effectively with the disparities and outcomes of cancer between Māori and non-Māori; if not, why not?
I think it is fair to say that any health administration in this country would be very conscious of the needs of our Māori population. There is always an emphasis on dealing with issues that show any kind of incidence that is higher for one group of the population than for another, and I am sure that that will continue.
Dr Jackie BlueWhen the Government has known about the disproportionate number of Māori females diagnosed with cancer as a result of its 2002 New Zealand health survey, when it has had a Cancer Control Strategy for 4 years, when it has had a Cancer Control Council for 3 years, and when we now have the concerning Unequal Impact report, just when can we expect the Minister’s Government to act?
I am advised that the Government’s cancer control programme now has Māori representation on the Cancer Control Council and has been put into regional governance. Four district health boards, Tairāwhiti, Lakes, Northland, and Whanganui—all of which, of course, have high Māori populations—have a joint programme on better access for Māori to services, including cancer services. Inevitably we will see, as we are already, a decline in the rate of cancer, which is to be supported, for all women in this country, including our Māori women.
Despite what the Minister is saying, it is very clear that the report states the opposite, so what will the Minister do to address—as stated by the National Council of Women—the lack of Māori providers contracted to the national screening unit at a regional level, which is a gap in the current system, and what will he be doing to improve health outcomes for Māori women by ensuring more resources are allocated to the regions?
I do not think there has been a Government in living memory that has provided more assistance to the health system, and for our Māori population in particular. But I have to say that there is an issue of concern for Māori, and that is the rate of smoking by Māori women, which is higher than that for other women. This Government is helping to reduce the incidence of smoking by continuing to expand programmes for Māori women, but we cannot do it on our own. We need the back-up of whānau and leadership by Māori women to encourage them to care for their own health. But the good news is that 74 percent of Māori households formerly with smokers and children are now smoke-free. That is more than the 68 percent for non-Māori households. This shows me—and I think anyone who wants to look objectively at this issue will agree—that Māori are taking these issues seriously.
Acknowledging that Māori are taking these issues seriously—despite the attempt to blame them for the situation they are in—and knowing that the national screening unit’s two key priorities for 2007 and 2008 are reducing inequalities and improving quality, what action has the Minister taken to respond to the urgent recommendation made by Dr Beverley Lawton of the Cancer Control Council in November 2006 to consult Māori and disadvantaged groups now to ensure maximum impact?
I think that all the information I have given the House today would indicate that this Government takes the health status of Māori in this population—as well as that of everyone else, of course—very seriously indeed. I just have to say that the Māori I know across New Zealand are taking active responsibility for their own health. They are not in grievance mode, continually suggesting that somebody else is to blame. They are taking responsibility for their own health, and I applaud them for it.
What is the Minister’s response to the statement yesterday from Professor Ron Jones of National Women’s Hospital in Auckland that the Government’s decision not to fund the new cervical cancer vaccine is a real tragedy, particularly for Māori and Pacific women who are under-represented in the screening programme and consequently have disproportionately high rates of the disease?
I do not know whether the member is aware of it, but the Government has prioritised vaccination, particularly for young Māori. Meningococcal disease, for example, has been given funding of $200 million. One of the most important immunisation schemes in the world—
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think we are talking about the wrong issue here. I am asking about cancer screening.
Madam SPEAKERWell, I am putting it in the context of this Government’s commitment to vaccination. In funding new vaccines this year, the top priority was Prevnar, a vaccination for meningococcal disease. The Government is keeping a close eye on international developments in human papilloma virus vaccines, such as Gardasil. These vaccines will protect against the cervical cancer virus and, as funding comes on stream, more vaccination programmes such as this will be implemented. But it is a bit rich, I think, to criticise this Government for doing more than any other Government because it is not doing even more still—which it is, of course, in its programmes.