Vol. 553 No. 2
526 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason women in the Western Health Board area do not receive free cancer screening facilities; if other health boards provide this service free of charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13255/02]
Since 1996, over €103 million has been invested in the development of cancer services under the national cancer strategy. In recognition of the need to further develop cancer services, the national health strategy has identified the need for the preparation by the end of this year of a revised implementation plan for the national cancer strategy. This plan is being prepared by my Department in conjunction with the National Cancer Forum and will set out the key areas to be targeted for the development of cancer services over the next seven years.
As part of this work, a sub-group of the National Cancer Forum has recently been established on generic screening. This group is currently reviewing all issues relating to screening, including looking at specific diseases such as prostate and colorectal cancer. Their recommendations will help to inform policy developments in this area on an ongoing basis.
As the Deputy is aware, BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme, commenced in March 2000 with phase one of the programme covering the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Midland Health Board and North-Eastern Health Board. Screening is being offered free of charge to all women in those areas in the target age group 50 to 64 years of age. It is expected that phase one of the programme will be completed by December 2002. To date, over 75,000 women have been called for screening and over 55,000 women have been screened, representing an uptake of 73%.
