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Health Screening Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Questions (403)

Seán Crowe

Question:

403. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health his views on a series of issues highlighted by a society (details supplied) regarding prostate cancer; his further views on whether it is an appropriate time to raise the prospect of a screening programme for prostate cancer; and the medical arguments against the introduction of such a programme for men. [11653/20]

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Written answers

A National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) was established in 2019 and has held two meetings to date. The Committee’s role is to undertake an independent assessment of the evidence for screening for a particular condition against internationally accepted criteria and make recommendations accordingly.

As part of its body of work the Committee will implement an agreed methodology for accepting applications to consider new, or revisions to, existing population-based screening programmes in Ireland.

Ireland, has always evaluated the case for commencing a national screening programme against international accepted criteria – collectively known as the Wilson Jungner criteria. The evidence bar for commencing a screening programme should and must remain high. This ensures that we can be confident that the programme is effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards.

The addition of any new population-based screening programmes will be incorporated as part of the Committee's work programme following a robust, methodologically sound and detailed analysis of the evidence in each and every case against internationally accepted screening criteria.

Updates in relation to screening will be posted on the NSAC website (https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/nsac/)

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