Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Written Answers - Cancer Incidence.

Nora Owen

Question:

280 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of women who died from cervical cancer in the years from 1990 to 2001; if cervical smear tests are available free to all medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11369/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Based on information supplied by the National Cancer Registry, the number of women who were registered as dying of cervical cancer from 1990 to 1999 is as follows:

1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
65	57	72	74	60	72	82	82	74	75	*

*Data for 2000 is not yet available.

While cervical smear testing is not currently provided by GPs under the scheme for medical card holders, such testing which is found to be necessary in the context of the individual woman's medical examination and clinical needs is available under the GMS scheme. Follow-up treatment is available to all women, including medical card holders, within the public hospital system.

It should be noted that phase 1 of the national cervical screening programme commenced in the Mid-Western Health Board in October 2000. Under the programme, in the region of 67,000 women aged 25-60 years will be screened, free of charge, at minimum intervals of five years. The question of extending the programme to cover women outside the Mid-Western Health Board area, including those covered by the GMS, is currently under consideration by my Department in conjunction with the chief executive officers of the health boards and the expert advisory group on cervical screening.