The Prostate Cancer Foundation wants health checks to be as routine as getting your car's WOF, but believes systemic changes are needed

Almost 4-thousand Kiwi's are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, making it the country's most commonly diagnosed cancer.

Foundation CEO Peter Dickens says the country's falling behind international standards, and wants the government to improve detection systems.

He says while breast and bowel cancers have established screening programmes, the healthcare system faces a mounting crisis.

He believes New Zealand needs to pilot a screening programme as soon as possible.