asked the Minister for Health the number of women who have received cervical smear tests in the last year for which figures are available; the percentage of women in the population this figure represents; and if he is satisfied that this service has been publicised widely enough.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cervical Smear Tests.
19.
62,000 cervical smear tests were carried out in 1977 and I am informed that this approximates to the number of women who had tests that year. This represents 6.2 per cent of women of 18 years and over but many other women would have had tests in previous years. I consider that generally this service has been satisfactorily publicised, particularly as the medical profession is fully aware of the service.
Would the Minister consider it advisable for the public that women be made aware of this?
The primary responsibility here so far as my Department are concerned would be to make sure that the medical profession are fully aware of it and that they advise their patients to avail of it.
Would the Minister agree that the screening service should be made available to the public concerned?
It is mentioned in our booklet Summary of Health Services, but perhaps the circulation of that booklet is very limited.
Would the Minister not agree that many doctors are finding it very difficult to impress on their patients the importance of this test and that efforts made by the Health Education Bureau or some other body to emphasise the importance of it would be widely welcome in the medical profession? The Health Education Bureau might consider that.
The number is increasing, but I will certainly discuss it with the Health Education Bureau.
There are many complaints especially in poorer areas that those services should be made available.
I accept that suggestion.