Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2264.To ask the Minister for Health if the ages for cancer screening are being reviewed by his Department for breast and bowel cancer; if his Department will lower the age of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32185/24]

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

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.

Since October 2023, BowelScreen, the national bowel cancer screening programme, invites men and women aged between 59-69 to take the free at-home screening test. This is an important part of a phased approach to expanding the screening age, in line with available capacity and resources. When full expansion is complete, people aged 55-74 will be invited for screening.

BreastCheck, the national breast cancer screening programme, currently invites women aged 50 to 69 years at regular periods to have a routine mammogram. Under commitments in the Programme for Government, BreastCheck eligibility has been expanded to women aged 69 years since 2021.

I would highlight that any decisions about further changes in cancer screening, including further extension of the age ranges, will be made on the advice of the 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 that 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.

In this regard, I am pleased to report that NSAC is already progressing work to consider the further expansion of our cancer screening programmes. In 2023, the Committee asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to evaluate the evidence for the further expansion of the age range eligibility for the BowelScreen and BreastCheck programmes. HIQA is currently focused on two HTA processes underway to examine the expansion of BowelScreen and the potential development of a population-based screening programme for Abdominal Aortic Aneurism (AAA). The evidence review for the expansion of the BreastCheck programme is expected to commence once the ongoing HTAs have concluded.

Health Technology Assessments (HTA) facilitate the assessment of relevant evidence and knowledge on the effects and consequences of healthcare technologies to guide decisions regarding the appropriate use of technology and efficient allocation of resources. They involve a multi-disciplinary assessment of the clinical, economic, ethical, legal and societal perspectives that may be impacted by the introduction of a new technology. They are time intensive and rigorous processes.

Finally, I would like to emphasise that population-based screening programmes are for people without symptoms. If anyone becomes aware of symptoms, or if they have concerns or worries, they should contact their General Practitioner (GP) immediately.