The top health manager in the province says Newfoundland and Labrador needs more effective cancer screening programs.

Pat Parfrey, CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, was giving an update yesterday on the Health Accord. NLHS is ahead of schedule on the five-year plan.

Parfrey pointed to many improvements in health care delivery, however he says we need more effective screening programs for early detection of cancer.

This province has the highest age-standardized cancer mortality in Canada according to statistics from 2023.

Parfrey says our management of cancer is as good as anywhere else. The problem is, NL has a higher incidence – it occurs more frequently in this province.

He says the way to overcome that is through early detection.

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