Dominic Hannigan
Question:643. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health when the bowel cancer screening programme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56854/12]
View answerTuesday, 18 December 2012
Questions (643, 644, 645, 646)
Dominic Hannigan
Question:644. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the amount of funds that have been allocated in each of the next three years for the bowel cancer screening programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56855/12]
View answerDominic Hannigan
Question:645. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the bowel cancer screening programme from the 60-69 age group to the 55-74 age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56856/12]
View answerDominic Hannigan
Question:646. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the ongoing plans for the budget for the bowel cancer screening programme on a multi-annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56857/12]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 643 to 646, inclusive, together.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the national colorectal screening programme, BowelScreen, commenced in November. The programme has been introduced on a phased basis to men and women between the ages of 60-69 years.
When fully implemented the programme will offer free screening to men and women aged 55-74 every two years. As 50% of cancers within this age group are found in people aged 60-69 the programme has begun with this latter age group cohort (a population of approximately 500,000). It is anticipated that the first screening round will take up to three years to complete. Over time the phasing of the programme will allow development of colonoscopy capacity to cater for the full 55-74 year age group. The estimated cost of the programme in 2013, based on an uptake rate of 60% among the target population is €4.3m with further costs in subsequent years as the programme expands. The programme has been shown through a Health Technology Assessment to be cost effective as it will very quickly reduce mortality among the screened population. 2013 funding will be prioritised in the HSE's Service Plan. While a multi-annual budget has not been set aside for the Programme, it will continue to be prioritised into the future.
I regard the colorectal screening programme as a national priority and I am committed to supporting it as it develops.
Question No. 647 answered with Question No. 638.