Progress towards choosing an IT solution to underpin New Zealand's National Bowel Screening Program (NBSP) is still in its early stages despite some relatively tight deadlines, with two DHBs due to start screening in July and a full national screening program due to be live by the end of 2019.

Almost $40 million was allocated over four years in the 2016 budget to begin the implementation of the screening program, which will see bowel screening offered to eligible people aged 60 to 74 every two years.