Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2018
89. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the actions he will take to insure there is sufficient capacity and resources to conduct the new HPV cervical screening testing here without outsourcing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28377/18]
View answerThe outcome of a health technology assessment 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.
I approved the switch to HPV testing as the primary screening mechanism for the CervicalCheck programme in February. Under the proposals, cytology testing will still be done on a smaller cohort as a secondary test. 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. Any decisions regarding the provision of screening laboratory services are subject to competition rules governed by HSE procurement policy and will form part of the project planning and implementation.
