Media Releases

National Health Committee consulting on prostate cancer screening

12 September 2003

Prostate cancer screening is an important and complex health area, and there is considerable interest in prostate cancer screening. The proven impact of prostate cancer screening on men dying from prostate cancer continues to be contentious.

While there are strong differences of opinion about the potential value of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing of asymptomatic (having no symptoms) men, there is unanimous agreement that doctors and men should have up-to-date information based on the best available evidence to help them make decisions. This is why the National Health Committee (NHC) is considering this issue.

As part of this process the NHC is sending out a review of the latest evidence on prostate cancer screening to health professionals and consumer groups. The NHC is seeking their views on prostate cancer screening, before it provides its advice to the Minister of Health.

This is the second time the National Health Committee has examined the issues relating to prostate cancer screening. In 1997 the NHC provided advice to the Minister of Health on the use of the PSA test for screening for prostate cancer. At that time, the committee recommended against population screening. However, due to continued high public interest in and increasing use of PSA testing, the NHC decided to review its previous advice. In 2001 it convened an advisory group to provide a summary of the evidence on population-based screening for prostate cancer and testing of asymptomatic men in New Zealand, particularly that which has amassed since 1997.

The summary of evidence, which the NHC is sending out for consultation is available from the NHC's website www.nhc.govt.nz or by telephoning the NHC on 04 496 2071.

The NHC is requesting responses by 17 October 2003 and expects to provide its advice to the Minister of Health before the end of the year.

For more information contact:
Mark Booth
Manager, NHC
Ph 04 496 2232

Bronwyn Petrie
Analyst, NHC
Ph 04 496 2066

Key points about prostate cancer and prostate cancer screening:

Prostate cancer accounts for 3.8% of all male deaths in New Zealand; about three quarters of these deaths occur amongst men aged 75 years and older. It is not known whether the incidence of prostate cancer for Māori men is more or less than for New Zealanders of European origin. The recent rise in the reported incidence of prostate cancer is largely due to widespread Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing in general practice.

• Many men, their families and whanau, are concerned about prostate cancer and ask about prostate screening.

• Currently there is no evidence from Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT) that demonstrates whether or not population screening for prostate cancer has a positive effect on the mortality and morbidity from this disease.

• Advice on the benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening tests should be reviewed as new evidence emerges. The National Health Committee

• The National Advisory Committee on Health and Disability (National Health Committee, NHC) provides the Minister of Health with independent advice on the kinds, and relative priorities, of health and disability services that should, in the committee's opinion, be publicly funded.

• The NHC has provided advice to the Minister of Health on screening for prostate cancer and colorectal cancer and has recently developed screening assessment criteria for screening programmes.