Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the estimated cost of introducing a personal health check for all, including screening for breast, cervical and prostate cancer. [12825/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The cost of introducing a personal health check depends on a range of variables, including type and frequency of diagnostic tests, the cohort(s) of the population to be covered, the setting in which tests would be conducted and the arrangements, including possible contractual arrangements with private health service providers, put in place for the delivery of such a programme.

A further and significant issue is that a personal health check programme would undoubtedly result in the earlier detection of previously unidentified disease in individuals. This would unlock significant demand for treatment services in primary care, continuing care and the acute hospital sector to assure the prompt, appropriate and effective treatment of individuals invited for a personal health check who are identified with disease or at risk of disease. The service and cost implications in this regard would require detailed examination if a personal health check programme were being developed.

Evidence based population screening programmes are an essential element of the National Cancer Control Strategy which I published last June. As the Deputy is aware, on 1 January this year, I established a National Cancer Screening Service Board which amalgamates BreastCheck and the Irish Cervical Screening Programme, both of which will be rolled out nationally this year. The total allocation to the new Service in 2007 is €33m. This is a 71% increase on the 2006 allocation to the Programmes and includes an additional €8m for BreastCheck and an additional €5m for the Irish Cervical Screening Programme. The Service will also advise on the implementation of a national colorectal screening programme.