From RNZ · RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa · · 1m 10s
National cuts foreign aid to boost health funding
National pledges to redirect foreign aid savings for cancer screenings and medicines.
In brief
National pledges to redirect foreign aid savings for cancer screenings and medicines. National promises to cut foreign aid by 10% to fund $604m in Pharmac medicines and expand cancer screenings without new taxes. Originally reported by RNZ.
National announces health funding shift
National Party leader Christopher Luxon and health spokesperson Simeon Brown announced a policy to redirect foreign aid money into new medicines and cancer screenings.
“Now we want to go further, getting more medicines to Kiwis and catching cancer early, when it is most treatable.”
New medicines budget boost
A re-elected National Government would deliver a $604 million uplift in Pharmac's medicines budget by reducing foreign aid spending by 10 percent.
Cancer screening expansion
National plans to lower bowel screening age to 50 by 2029, extend breast screening to age 74 by 2029, and launch new prostate and lung cancer pilots.
Health funding strategy
National will invest $823.8m in health, including $41.5m in capital spending, offset by a $431.2m reduction in foreign aid spending.
Health policy comparison
National claims Labour's coalition would impose nine new taxes on Kiwis, while National focuses on health without new taxes.
What matters most
National promises to cut foreign aid by 10% to fund $604m in Pharmac medicines and expand cancer screenings without new taxes.
