Media Release
29 April 2008
PET Scanning Possible In Public Health System
Thanks to private enterprise up-to-date treatment is now available to cancer patients in Wellington and with a minimum
of Government initiative it could be available in the public health sector says New Zealand First health spokesperson
Barbara Stewart.
“Pacific Radiology’s new PET/CT scanner is open for business but unfortunately last year’s decision by DHB chief
executives not to invest in scanners means that patients still need health insurance, a forward thinking district health
board or personal funds to access it.
“PET scanning is the gold standard for the detection and monitoring of cancer and this situation is nothing short of
criminal. Other uses include the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and the assessment of coronary artery disease. You certainly
get your money’s worth from this medical technology.
“Back in the health bureaucracy the CEOs of the DHBs cannot even decide whether their boards should pay for patients to
have private scans until the necessary paperwork has been generated.
“However the company that makes the radioactive isotope used in scanning now proposes to set up a $5 million facility in
Wellington to make the isotope here rather than flying it from Melbourne.
“If that happens half of the cost of setting up this technology could be met privately and the Government could buy
scanners to take advantage of this windfall. The time for bureaucratic dithering is past – let’s see some action,” said
Mrs Stewart.
ENDS