Colm Burke
Question:147. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if population screening for haemochromatosis will be implemented in Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34111/20]
View answerWednesday, 4 November 2020
Questions (147)
Written answers
The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) was established in 2019 and has held four 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, or modifications to existing 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/)