Medical Council president's comments on CervicalCheck welcome says Health Minister

Health Minister Simon Harris has welcomed a statement from the new President of the Medical Council about the positive impact of cancer screening programmes.

The Minister for Health has welcomed a warning from the new President of the Medical Council, over misleading information following the Cervical Check scandal.

Dr Rita Doyle tonight said she is concerned that the positive impact of cancer screening programmes is being lost in the issues that have emerged.

Dr Doyle says the Cervical Check programme has cut mortality rates by 7% year-on-year since it's introduction - dramatically reducing the number of women who die from cervical cancer.

However in a statement tonight she says this 'good news story' has been lost in the issues that have emerged in recent months.

Dr Doyle says the Medical Council is also concerned about the amount of inaccurate information in the public domain as a result of those difficulties.

Health Minister Simon Harris has welcomed the statement, saying it highlights the importance of our screening programmes, and the positive impacts they've had.

Minister Harris says he is fully committed to the screening programme - to protecting it, and to making improvements - by all working together.

Very welcome statement from President of Medical Council, Dr @ritakj highlighting importance of our screening programmes, positive impacts they have had on reducing cancer rates & concern about inaccurate information. Fully committed to protecting screening & making improvements pic.twitter.com/N8kihoizYf

— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) August 6, 2018