Ahern noncommittal on cervical screening plan
Earlier this month, the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) urged the Government to stop dithering about rolling the service out and start saving the lives of young women with young families.
Ireland has one of the highest death rates in the world from cervical cancer and the ICS is leading a health and trade union lobby in calling for the immediate introduction of a countrywide scheme.
Each year more than 200 women develop cervical cancer and over 1,000 develop severe pre-cancer.
Dr Gráinne Flannelly, a consultant gynaecologist and a member of the ICS's medical board, said 30% of women with a high-grade abnormality of the cervix that was ignored for 10 years would develop cancer.
She said the Government had reached a crossroads where they had to decide whether to roll out a national programme.
Mr Ahern, who officially opened a new colposcopy suite at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, said he was aware that more than 60 women die every year from cervical cancer. He also said considerable investment had been made in the development of testing and treatment services.
About 230,000 cervical smear tests were carried out annually an increase of 20% in recent years and the Department of Health and Children had provided about €14.5 million since 2000 to meet this increased demand and to enhance cytology and colposcopy services.
"I cannot put a time limit on when a national screening programme will be rolled out but I can say we are putting in huge resources," Mr Ahern said.
The master of the Rotunda, Dr Michael Geary, said the colposcopy unit was the leading centre for cervical screening and treatment on Dublin's northside.
Dr Geary also added that there had been a dramatic decrease in the number of pregnant non-national women arriving at the hospital.
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