Bernard Allen
Question:203 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to set up a national screening programme in view of the incidence of prostate cancer in the male population. [22698/97]
Written Answers. - National Screening Programme.
National programmes of screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer are currently being developed as part of the initiatives taken under the national cancer strategy. A vital requirement of screening programmes is that they be effective in identifying accurately the existence of the relevant disease. The expert advice available to me is that, while screening programmes for breast cancer and cervical cancer in targeted age groups have been proven to be medically effective, no such screening programme has yet been developed in the case of prostate cancer.
I will keep the scope for introducing a screening programme for prostate cancer under review in the light of the expert advice available and international developments in this area.