David Clark: It's my responsibility to improve standard of cancer care

The Health Minister is paying tribute to the couple who led the massive outcry over inequalities in cancer care. The Government has today announced it's setting up an independent national cancer agency. Health Minister David Clark says the Cancer Control Agency will be fully established by December. It will have its own CEO, but will be housed within the Ministry of Health. The cancer action plan also includes a $60 million dollar Pharmac boost, with $20 million for this year. The agency will be tasked with ensuring an end to so-called 'postcode lottery' care. Clark told the Weekend Collective it will ensure the same standards of care apply across New Zealand. "We don't think it's acceptable in some areas get better treatment than others. We think everyone should be able to access that same high level of care." He recognised Blair and Melissa Vining, the couple who led a massive petition for change, calling them wonderful people. He says he's been moved by their plight. "They drew attention to the fact that there is different standards of care around the country. That's something we've inherited as a government. It's not worth dwelling on how it came to be that way, but suffice to say, as Health Minister, I see it as my responsibility to improve on that situation." However, Melissa told Newstalk ZB that the pair are disappointed with the Government's decision to not lower the bowel screening age to 50, the disease which her husband is dying from. "Not lowering the age to 50, that's really sa.d We've got a really big problem in New Zealand. We're 10 years behind other countries with bowel screening, and we think it's disappointing that there's not more urgency around that." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.