New Zealand Expands Free Mammogram Access to Women Aged 70-74

Women aged 70 to 74 in New Zealand will now have access to free mammograms, a significant development announced by Health Minister Simeon Brown and Women’s Minister Nicola Grigg. This change marks the beginning of a four-year rollout aimed at enhancing breast cancer screening across the country.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women in New Zealand, and this initiative is expected to facilitate earlier detection and treatment, ultimately saving lives. “This is an important step forward in catching cancer earlier, saving lives, and ensuring women across New Zealand have access to timely, quality, life-saving care,” Brown stated.

The new program will allow approximately 30,600 additional women to receive screenings in its first year. Previously, free mammograms were available to women aged 45 to 69, provided every two years. The eligibility criteria are set to expand each October over the next three years, eventually including women aged 71, 72, and 73. Once fully implemented, around 130,000 more women will qualify for free screenings every two years, which translates to an average of two to three additional mammograms per woman.

Enhancing Screening Services and Accessibility

The phased approach to this rollout is designed to ensure that health services can manage the increased demand while maintaining quality care. To support this initiative, Health New Zealand is actively hiring more staff, adding mammography and ultrasound machines, and establishing new screening locations, including four mobile units.

Grigg emphasized the importance of early detection in improving survival rates. “Each year, around 3,400 New Zealand women are diagnosed with breast cancer,” she noted. The full extension of the age range is anticipated to enable earlier detection of breast cancer in approximately 60 additional women annually, enhancing their chances of successful treatment.

This initiative is also expected to benefit Māori and Pacific women, who are statistically less likely to participate in screening programs yet have higher rates of breast cancer. The government initially announced this age extension in April 2022 and has been testing the approach in the regions of Nelson and Marlborough since October.

Women will be automatically invited for screenings through Te Puna, a new digital breast screening platform, or they can register online at TimeToBreastScreen.nz or by calling 0800 270 200. Brown remarked, “This technology is already helping more women get screened on time, ensuring more cancers are caught early.”

By expanding free screening options and leveraging innovative digital tools, the New Zealand government aims to streamline access to essential healthcare services, ensuring that women receive the necessary care when they need it most.