Māori doctors have joined calls for the Ministry of Health to reconsider postponing a self-swabbing cervical cancer programme, saying the delays are unacceptable.
The programme was due to be rolled out next year. Te Ropu Whakakaupapa Urutā, the National Māori Pandemic Group, wrote to the Ministry in late June calling for immediate action on self testing for HPV.
They say it is essential the 30-year old cervical screening programme is updated.
Dr Maia Melbourne-Wilcox is from that group and told Māni Dunlop the Covid-19 lockdown caused irreparable impacts to the cervical cancer screening.
