A new mobile cancer diagnosis scanning unit aims to improve access to healthcare for Kiwis living in rural or deprived parts of the country, and help cut wait-times.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scans detect early signs of cancer, heart disease and brain disorders. A combination PET-CT scan produces 3D images for a more accurate diagnosis.

There are six PET scanners across Aotearoa: in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and one planned for Dunedin. However, around half of Kiwis live outside these cities, which can see rural patients travel for hundreds of kilometres to the nearest diagnostic centre.

But a new initiative by Mercy Radiology will see a mobile PET/CT scanner deployed in Northland and the central North Island in regions with high demand, able to support the diagnostic needs of medical specialists, travelling by truck and trailer.

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Dr Lloyd McCann, chief executive of Mercy Radiology and Clinics, said the initiative – the first in Australasia – could benefit thousands of Kiwis living with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions.

He said investment into new technologies, such as the PET scanner, was designed to help address the inequality in access to diagnostics.

McCann said the private health organisation was working with Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) and Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority) to ensure publicly-funded patients also had access to this technology.

“This is a key equity driver for us, so we absolutely will ensure patients from the public component of the sector can access this service.”

The unit can remain stationary for as long as required, but it is likely to be in various locations for 3-5 days depending on need in the area.

McCann said it was hoped such new initiatives would reduce public hospital waiting lists – which were up to seven weeks long.

Funding advanced nuclear medicine technology and imaging facilities was part of a wider strategy to help increase capacity in the radiology sector by approximately 5%.

“We know that with some forms of cancer, a delay of several weeks can lead to different patient outcomes and any moves to cut diagnostic waiting lists is a critical step in reducing the burden of disease,” he said.

According to the Cancer Control Agency, those living in more remote rural areas are likely to experience barriers to early detection and treatment for their cancers, as they live further away from centres where most cancer services are based.

In 2018, about 766,000 New Zealanders lived rurally, representing 16% of the total population. Eighteen per cent of Māori lived in rural areas.

Data also shows Māori are 20% more likely to get cancer and twice as likely to die from cancer as non-Māori. Māori patients also experience poorer outcomes across many other chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease.

Mercy Radiology is also operating new diagnostic imaging facilities and equipment in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and increasing its molecular imaging diagnostic and therapeutic capacity.