Bernard J. Durkan
Question:27 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if sufficient funding is available for cancer research in light of possible future trends; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Cancer Research.
Seán Barrett
Question:29 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Health the proposals his Department have to deal with the substantial growth in deaths from cancer in Ireland despite our commitment to the WHO target to cut cancer death by 15 per cent by the year 2000.
Andrew Boylan
Question:87 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the trend in cancer deaths in the past decade; the way in which this compares with the World Health Organisation target for cancer deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ivor Callely
Question:127 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the approach being taken to reduce mortality from cancer in Ireland; if he will give details of the measures which will be introduced following the World Health Organisation list of individual targets under the Health of All Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 27, 29, 87 and 127 together.
Information on cancer deaths is routinely published in the Annual and Quarterly Reports on Vital Statistics compiled by the Central Statistics Office.
A tabular statement which I will circulate in the official report gives the number of deaths from cancer for each year from 1982 to 1991.
The tabular statement also breaks down these deaths into those occurring under and over 65 years of age.
While the general trend in deaths from cancer over the period has been upwards, it is clear from the table that much of the increase in cancer mortality has been in the older age group: to some extent the rise in cancer incidence is due to the increase in life expectancy. Very few people now die from infectious diseases — instead they succumb in later life to the diseases of old age, including cancer.
In 1985 the World Health Organisation's European Region adopted targets for "Health for All" by the year 2000: a specific target dealing with cancer sought a reduction in cancer mortality of at least 15 per cent in people under 65 by the year 2000 and as the tabular statement shows there has been a general downward trend in deaths from cancer in the under 65 age group since 1985.
To give some specific examples, in 1985 there were 2,235 deaths from cancer in people under 65 — the corresponding figure for 1989 (the most recent year for which final figures are available) is 2,148 (a reduction of 3.9 per cent). Provisional figures for 1990 show 2,094 deaths from cancer among the under 65's — this corresponds to a reduction of 6.3 per cent in cancer mortality among under 65's over the period 1985-1990. The corresponding figures for 1991 show 2,176 deaths from cancer among under 65's (or a reduction of 2.6 per cent over the period 1985-1991).
The WHO target in question identifies tobacco-related cancer as a particular problem and measures to decrease the consumption of tobacco are of course a priority of my Department's Health Promotion Unit.
The establishment of screening programmes for cervical cancer is also recommended by the WHO and in this regard Deputies may wish to note that a cervical-screening service is available to all women through their general practitioners, family planning clinics, maternity hospitals and special clinics organised by health boards. In addition, the Working Group on Cervical Screening has been reconvened in order to consider what further improvements can be made in this area. The reconvening of this working group is in line with a commitment given in theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress.
Publicly funded cancer research is primarily a matter for the Health Research Board and I would refer Deputies to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 26 November, 1991 which set out the position on the funding of cancer research. Having regard to the Health Research Board's allocation I consider that the funding made available is adequate.
The diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of persons suffering from cancer is a routine activity of the health services.
Tabular Statement
Deaths from Cancer 1982-1990
|
Year |
Under 65 |
Over 65 |
Total |
|
1982 |
2,202 |
4.130 |
6,332 |
|
1983 |
2,227 |
4,244 |
6,471 |
|
1984 |
2,243 |
4,423 |
6,666 |
|
1985 |
2,235 |
4,454 |
6,689 |
|
1986 |
2,245 |
4,645 |
6,890 |
|
1987 |
2,114 |
4,852 |
6,966 |
|
1988 |
2,181 |
4,973 |
7,154 |
|
1989 |
2,148 |
5,191 |
7,339 |
|
1990* |
2,094 |
5,049 |
7,143 |
|
1991* |
2,176 |
5,136 |
7,312 |
*Provisional