Doctors are pleading with the Ministry of Health to ditch a "substandard" cervical screening test, saying its costing lives.
They want a new, more accurate test that women can do themselves but a planned rollout has been delayed again.
The Ministry is being urged to to reverse that decision - the new test which is much less invasive was first meant to be introduced in 2018, then delayed until 2021 and now that won't happen either.
RNZ health correspondent Rowan Quinn reports.
In a statement, associate health minister Julie Anne Genter says the government is still committed to self screening - especially to address inequity for Maori and Pacific women.
She says the current IT system needs to be upgraded first and the Covid response has contributed to delays.
She says funding will be considered in the next budget.
