Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
669. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he has received any correspondence from general practitioners expressing concerns of a perceived increase or decrease in cancer diagnosis, late cancer diagnosis or missed cancer diagnosis as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic since he took office; if so, the dates upon which he received the correspondence from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60810/22]
View answerNo correspondence has been received to date by my Department from general practitioners expressing concerns of a perceived increase or decrease in cancer diagnosis, late cancer diagnosis or missed cancer diagnosis as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic since I took office as Minister for Health.
In 2020 and 2021, cancer services continued to be provided in Ireland during a challenging time for health services globally. The National Action Plan on Covid-19 identified the continued delivery of cancer care as a priority. Cancer diagnostic and treatment services continued to operate, including breast, lung, and prostate Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) for cancer diagnosis.
The NCRI Annual Report for 2022 was published on the 29th of November 2022. The report shows further data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnoses indicates that the pandemic resulted in a 10% reduction in cancer diagnoses (based on all cancers) or 11% (based on microscopically verified cancers) in 2020, compared to what was expected that year.
The Government has allocated increased funding to cancer services in recent years, which was used to maintain services during Covid-19 and to drive improvements. In 2021 the Government allocated €57m to cancer services: €20m in new development funding, €12m for measures against Covid-19, €15m for new cancer drugs, and €10m for cancer screening. In 2022 the Government allocated an additional €20m in new development funding to cancer services.
Funding in recent years is being used to drive improvements in Rapid Access Clinics for the main tumour types, which help patients to be diagnosed and treated at an earlier stage. The National Cancer Control Programme in the HSE launched an Early Diagnosis of Symptomatic Cancer Plan in May of this year, which has the aim of raising awareness of cancer among health practitioners as well as the general population. For anyone who has concerns about cancer, the key message is that they should contact their GP where they can be referred for diagnosis and treatment. For people without symptoms, screening programmes for breast cancer, cervical cancer and bowel cancer are available free of charge for people who are eligible.
