Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Finucane's comments on making the gardasil drug available to every woman in the country. I also strongly support the comments of the cancer specialist who yesterday described the decision not to make the new vaccine against cervical cancer available to women on the medical card scheme as "ethically dubious and nonsensical on financial grounds". These are strong words from a top cancer specialist that must be taken seriously. He went on to say the decision seemed to be based on cost. What cost do we put on women's lives, particularly those with a history of cervical cancer in the family. If they were given this vaccine it would ensure they would not develop cancer.

There is inequality in our health system when certain women get a particular drug because they can afford it and others are barred from getting it because of cost. The Well Woman Centre yesterday said, shockingly, that women in this bracket, who may have a family history or early signs of cervical cancer, are borrowing money to enable them to get this drug. Where is the equality in that? When we have wonderful medicines that will tackle cancer, or any illness, we should reach out and give them to those in need. We should at least ensure equality, that we are all treated the same with no woman barred from receiving treatment due to cost. I am sure the Leader will not agree that women should be barred from treatment on the basis of its cost. Every one of us, both men and women, should ensure we have full equality across the board, particularly in cancer treatment services.