Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:78 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the roll out of the cervical cancer screening service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27573/03]
Vol. 574 No. 5
78 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the roll out of the cervical cancer screening service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27573/03]
Phase one of the national cervical screening programme has been up and running in the Mid-Western Health Board since October 2000. Under the programme, cervical screening is being offered to approximately 74,000 women in the 25 to 60 age group free of charge at five year intervals.
In regard to the roll out of the programme, under the national health strategy, a commitment has been given to its full extension to the rest of the country. Planning and organising the national programme comprises a major undertaking that requires careful consideration involving significant logistical and resource implications. The Health Boards Executive, HeBE, has initiated an examination of the feasibility and implications of a roll out of the national programme. The work currently being undertaken as part of the roll out includes an evaluation of phase one, policy development and the establishment of national governance arrangements. This work is informed by both the experiences gained from the phase one programme and the learning derived from other international programmes and current international best practice.