Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

181. To ask the Minister for Health when the National Screening Advisory Committee is expected to present its recommendations for the expansion of population-based screening programmes following its annual call for changes to screening services in November 2021; if he intends to accept NSAC's recommendations; the likely timeframe to implement any expansion of the screening programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50555/22]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

182. To ask the Minister for Health when the National Screening Advisory Committee is expected to make its second annual call for changes to be made to population-based screening programmes in Ireland; if the recommendations from the first annual call launched in November 2021 will be available before the second call is announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50556/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.

I am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.

Any decisions about changes to the screening programmes, such as further widening the age eligibility, will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.

The Committee's first Annual Call in 2021 for proposals for new screening programmes or changes to our existing programmes, received a significant response with a total of 53 submissions received. Submissions were received from various sources, including members of the public and patient advocates, and have been undergoing consideration by the committee at its scheduled meetings during 2022. The NSAC intends to publish its full work programme in the coming weeks.

I am pleased to note, however, that the Committee has already made some decisions, including in relation to the existing national cancer screening programmes. Following submissions from several sources, including from BreastCheck, the Committee has asked HIQA to begin looking at the evidence for extending the age range for breast screening. It has also asked HIQA to look at the age range for bowel screening.

Additionally, the Committee made a recommendation to me for the adoption of a clinical guideline in the BowelScreen programme, that was submitted by BowelScreen via the Annual Call, which I approved in March 2022.

Progress has also been achieved in the expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) programme. A ninth condition (ADA-SCID) was added to the NBS programme in May 2022, following a recommendation from the National Screening Advisory Committee which I approved in 2020.

A Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to look at the evidence for the addition of a tenth condition (called SCID) is currently underway, and I am looking forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee before the end of 2022.

The second NSAC Annual Call is expected to open in November 2022 and will welcome proposals from the public and healthcare professionals. Further details will be published on the NSAC website shortly.