Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether it is acceptable that general medical services patients are charged for the taking of cervical smears under the cervical cancer screening programme for women aged 25 to 60 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16534/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The rollout of a national cervical screening programme is the most efficient population approach to preventing and controlling cervical cancer. CervicalCheck provides free smear tests to women aged 25 to 60 who are eligible for screening.

Women can arrange an appointment to have a smear test with a CervicalCheck registered smeartaker (doctor or practice nurse) of their choice at a convenient time and date. In general, women aged between 25 and 44 are advised to have a smear test every three years and if aged between 45 and 60, a smear test every five years is advised.

Details of registered smeartakers can be found at www.cervicalcheck.ie. There are 2,700 registered smeartakers listed on this website.

Cervical smear testing is not currently provided by GPs or family planning clinics under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. However, where cervical smears form part of recognised protocols for the ongoing treatment of individual patient illnesses, they should be provided free of charge to eligible women under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. Any necessary follow-up treatment is available to all women, including medical card holders, within the public hospital system.

If the Deputy wishes to provide additional information on this particular case, the matter can be referred to the Health Service Executive for further investigation.