Govt bowel screening decision against evidence - Pacific health leaders

Pacific health leaders are accusing the government of sacrificing peoples' lives for ideology by delaying bowel cancer screening for Maori and Pacific people from 50 to 58. Responding to Health Minister Simeon Brown's announcement that bowel screening will now be a universal age of 58 for all New Zealanders, Pacific doctors say this decision goes against research data and evidence.  Leiataualesa Susana Lei'ataua reports. 
Health Minister Simeon Brown said his priority is ensuring all Kiwis have access to timely, quality healthcare, ensuring the government can do the greatest number of treatments and preventions with the resources they have. Bowel cancer risk is similar across all population groups at the same age.