Dr Geoff Couser, Australian Greens candidate for Denison has today supported the Greens’ commitment to improving the National Bowel Screening programme.
Dr Couser said that bowel cancer is one of only three cancers for which population-based screening is recommended, and called for a new approach to the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
“Bowel cancer claims the lives of 3,800 people every year and is second only to lung cancer on the list of cancer deaths in Australia,” Dr Couser said.
The Greens are calling on the next federal government to commit to maintaining the current funding for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program beyond 2011 for at least four years and expand the program to include screening for people turning 60 and 70 years old, at a cost of $15 million per year.
“This is best and most cost-effective investment the next federal government can make to immediately reduce cancer morbidity and mortality,” said Dr Couser.
“We know that early screening for bowel cancer has the potential to prevent as many as 2,000 deaths every year.
“It is a simple and absolutely essential commitment which is fully supported by the Australian Greens,” Dr Couser concluded.
The Greens will:
• Maintain current funding for the National Bowel Screening programme for next four years.
• Commit an additional $15 million per year to:
o Extend the existing program to include people aged 60 and 70
o Commission an independent evaluation of the program after two years to determine its efficacy.
• Undertake a cost-benefits analysis into broadening the program in 2012- 13 to include an additional follow-up biennial faecal occult blood test screen.
Geoff Couser Australian Greens candidate for Denison
