A furious row raged this week over a decision by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the group behind the Pink Ribbon campaign, to cut its long-term funding for a Planned Parenthood project to screen disadvantaged women for breast cancer.

In a statement, Bloomberg said: "Politics have no place in health care. Breast cancer screening saves lives and hundreds of thousands of women rely on Planned Parenthood for access to care. We should be helping women access that care, not placing barriers in their way."

Planned Parenthood, the largest reproductive and sexual health service provider in the U.S., provides screenings for cervical, breast cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/Aids. It is also widely known to help women access abortions and contraception.