News release

From: NZMJ

Cases of stomach cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand are projected to increase by nearly 50% by 2045, rising from around 500 to over 700 cases per year. Māori and Pacific peoples, who alreadyexperience the highest rates of stomach cancer, are projected to see their case numbers nearly double over this period. A significant share of this burden could be prevented through programmes that test and treat Helicobacter pylori, a bacterial infection usually acquired in childhood, that is one of the leading causes of stomach cancer and is more common in communities affected by overcrowding and socio-economic deprivation. Meeting future service demands will require early regional planning for diagnostic and surgical services. Equity must be central to this response, as Māori and Pacific peoples face well-documented barriers to timely diagnosis and care that increased service capacity alone will not resolve.