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How many additional people become eligible by lowering the bowel screening age from 58 to 56?

Answered Question 27063 (2026)
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Reply lodged

Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • How many additional people become eligible by lowering the bowel screening age from 58 to 56?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

 I am advised that lowering the age will allow more than 200,000 additional people to access bowel screening over the next two years. Around 130,000 people turning 56 and 57 will be invited in the first year of rollout, with a further 65,000 people turning 56 invited in the second year.