Should prioritising health interventions be informed by modelling studies? The case of cancer control in Aotearoa New Zealand

In this viewpoint, we suggest that policymakers should prioritise health interventions by using evidence around health gain, impact on equity, health-system costs and cost-effectiveness. We take the example of the new cancer control agency in New Zealand, Te Aho o Te Kahu, and argue that its decision-making can now be informed by many methodologically compatible epidemiological and health economic analyses. These analyses span primary prevention of cancer (eg, tobacco control, dietary and physical activity interventions and HPV vaccination), cancer screening, cancer treatment and palliative care. The largest health gain and cost-savings from the available modelling work for New Zealand are seen in nutrition and tobacco control interventions in particular. Many of these interventions have potentially greater per capita health gain for Māori than non-Māori and are also found to be cost saving for the health sector. In summary, appropriate prioritisation of interventions can potentially both maximise health benefits as well as making best use of government funding of the health system.