VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – When it comes to colorectal cancer, early detection is crucial in giving people as high a chance of surviving as possible.

To that end,  NDP leader Adrian Dix is calling on the province to bring in a province wide screening program.

He says there would be short term start-up costs, but the province needs to find the money in the budget.

“I think in this case, what you’re talking about are significant avoided costs in a screening program, this is exactly the kind of measure we need to take in health care,” he stresses.

He adds from a financial point of view, detecting and removing polyps before they become tumours will mean a lot of health care savings down the road.

“I think it makes a lot of sense it terms of rate of return because of the avoided cost of more serious treatment required with late detection, and of course the reduced mortality rates associated with colorectal cancer,” he explains.

Currently, the province has set up pilot screening programs in Vancouver, Penticton, and Powell River.