Govt criticised over high rate of cervical cancer deaths

The head of the American Society of Cancer is criticising the Government's failure to set up a national cervical cancer screening programme.

A survey has revealed that death rates from the disease here are higher than in Britain or Northern Ireland and are continuing to climb.

Doctor John Seffrin, who is also President of the International Union Against Cancer, said that Health Minister Mary Harney cannot afford to ignore the problem any longer.

Dr Seffrin said cervical cancer is totally preventable, and that the Government needs to work with the Irish Cancer Society to implement a nationwide screening programme.

He added that evidence in other countries shows that screening programmes can eliminate what is currently a significant health problem for the women of Ireland.