Latest figures posted by the Cancer Society have revealed that every year, skin cancer costs New Zealand a whopping $123 Million, a figure which has worried officials and authorities all around, especially in the current times when the whole world is experiencing an economic crunch.

While the treatment costs the country's health system in excess of $57 Million a year, around $66 Million is a result of the loss of life and earnings. Writer of the report, Des O'Dea, from the Wellington School of Medicine, asserts that most skin cancer cases are avoidable. According to him, while skin cancer mostly surfaces in old age, the damage often starts when the patient is much younger, and a bit of care and prevention can take care of it.

The report is being seen as a good enough cause for the authorities to start investing more funds to educate the general public about skin cancer and run programs for the purpose. As has been revealed by the report, despite the fact that so much is being lost because of skin cancer, the Government is currently putting in just $2 Million a year for community prevention measures like the sun-smart campaign by the Cancer Society and the Health Sponsorship Council.

Currently, New Zealand records the world's highest number of skin cancer death.