8. Question No. 8—HealthHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 8—Health8. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Health: Did Budget 2020 provide funding to progressively increase the age for free breast-screening to 74; if not why not? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Mr Speaker talofa lava. This Government remains committed to progressively extending the age of eligibility for free breast-screening to 74. However due to the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic this could not be progressed in Budget 2020. Our priority in health for this year's Budget was strengthening our public health service with a record investment in our DHBs of $3.92 billion. Extending the age for breast screening will be revisited as conditions allow. Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he read the impact analysis on extending breast screening to include women aged 70 to 74 years and if so does he agree with its findings of benefit for women of that age? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I of course don't have the lead responsibility in this area. If the member wants to put down specific questions about a specific impact analysis he should put that to the Associate Minister of Health Julie Anne Genter who has responsibility for women's health which includes breast screening. Hon Michael Woodhouse: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: No I'm going to deal with that. The member had the opportunity to transfer the question to the Associate Minister if he felt it was outside his area of responsibility and therefore I think he's got to give a substantive answer to the question that was asked. I'll ask Mr Woodhouse to repeat it. Hon Michael Woodhouse: Thank you. Has he read the impact analysis on extending breast screening to include women aged 70 to 74 years and if so does he agree with its findings of benefit for women of that age? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I am aware that the impact analysis suggests that the benefit for women of that age is not as great as for the current cohort. Hon Michael Woodhouse: Does he think that the failure to deliver on what is a coalition promise harms the Government's stated intention to reduce health inequalities given Māori and Pacific women have significantly higher incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: In terms of the equity question the member asks there are many many initiatives which would greatly improve equity and that starts with properly funding our DHBs and our health system. After nine years of neglect this Government is absolutely committed to funding public healthcare adequately for the first time in ages and it is making a difference because we are now able to fund the nurses and doctors and allied health workers that are required to deliver healthcare for all New Zealanders—1700 more nurses 900 more doctors 600 more allied health workers. We are rebuilding a system that was neglected for nine long years. Hon Michael Woodhouse: In relation to his answer to the primary question does he accept that the evidence from the ministry means his failure to deliver on this coalition promise will cost more lives than COVID-19 has? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I return to the original answer which is that we have the job of prioritising in healthcare. We have been making record investments and so we are focused on making sure we roll out the programmes that will make sure more New Zealanders get more care and that's indeed what we're seeing under this Government. Hon Michael Woodhouse: So what does he say to the more than 1000 Kiwi women aged 70 to 74 who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone and whose lives could've been improved or saved had this Government kept its promise? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: There is much investment going into health across the board and more people are getting more care. I'd ask that member to look in the mirror and look at his time in a Cabinet that failed to fund health adequately if he's going to ask questions about people missing out. We are committed to growing the provision of healthcare and as conditions allow we will continue to invest in healthcare. This is a Government that is absolutely committed to making sure more New Zealanders get more healthcare.