# National cuts foreign aid to boost health funding

> National pledges to redirect foreign aid savings for cancer screenings and medicines.
- Title: National cuts foreign aid to boost health funding · RNZ
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: national, pharmac, cancer screenings, foreign aid, christopher luxon, simeon brown, new zealand, elected government, health policy, cancer treatment, politics, news
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/1754401/election-2026-national-promises-to-cut-foreign-aid-to-boost-pharmac-s-budget-cancer-screenings
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-05T22:31:46+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: national, pharmac, cancer screenings, foreign aid, christopher luxon, simeon brown, new zealand, elected government, health policy, cancer treatment, politics, news
## 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.
## Key takeaway

National promises to cut foreign aid by 10% to fund $604m in Pharmac medicines and expand cancer screenings without new taxes.