I propose to take Questions Nos. 766 to 771, inclusive, together.
The outcome of a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) for the National Screening Service was that the HPV test is a more accurate testing mechanism than the current liquid-based cytology, that the use of the HPV test would result in fewer false negative results, and that the use of the HPV test would result in more cancers being prevented.
As part of the HTA, HIQA considered 32 different screening strategies, including different primary screening tests (HPV or Liquid-Based Cytology), triage tests, screening intervals, and screening exit ages in both unvaccinated and vaccinated cohorts. This included economic modelling to project the financial cost of each of the strategies.
Currently cervical screening samples undergo cytology screening as the primary screening test and following the move to HPV testing, cervical screening samples will undergo a HPV test as the primary screening test and women whose samples show HPV infection will be triaged using cytology to determine if there are any abnormal cell changes.
The HTA did not recommend co-testing as both tests (liquid-based cytology and HPV) have been shown to be effective as a primary screening test.
I approved the switch to HPV testing as the primary screening mechanism for the CervicalCheck programme in February. The introduction of the test was intended for October of this year and I have asked the HSE to implement the move to HPV testing as the primary screening method as soon as possible.
While the extent to which the HPV testing can be done in Ireland is being assessed, it is likely that a tendering process will be needed to meet at least some of the HPV testing requirement.