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A provider of advanced medical scanning says it is now becoming viable commercially to put in more of the multimillion-dollar machines.
New Zealand has only half a dozen or so PET CT scanners that are very accurate on cancers, but is poised to double that number.
One is going to South Auckland and opens in a couple of weeks.
Integral Diagnostics NZ general manager Alison Chetwynd said it made sense to put in a second scanner in addition to one in Remuera.
"When we first entered PET, it wasn't the most profitable area for us," she said.
"But over time, you know, that has changed to the point our new investment in our PET in South Auckland, it's a four-and-a half-million dollar investment for our organisation.
"And we anticipate that that will be opening, you know, with demand to follow pretty quickly.
"Which is encouraging from both a patient and business perspective."
Most PET scans are public funded.
A trickle of South Auckland patients had been scanned at Remeura, but many more were expected at the new local scanner, she said.
"We certainly want to see and provide services to where people can access them closer to home."
The new scanner was just seven minutes from Auckland airport so a patient could fly in for a quick scan.
"We may look to add another one in perhaps two or three years' time."
Dr David Rogers, lead radiologist at Astra Radiology (Integral Diagnostics is its parent company), said there was relative under-utilisation of advanced health services in South Auckland.
"New Zealand in general does not embrace new technology," he said.
"That's held things back a bit over time.
"The government is in the position to change that, by saying, 'This is a resource we need, we should fund it', but it hasn't been forthcoming."
Te Whatu Ora "lurched along" short-term when with a longer view, more could be done with PET, such as in diagnosing Alzheimer's, as it was in other countries, Chetwynd said.
The health agency is poised to release a new approach that lets more men get a prostate cancer PET scan, which would generate more demand.
