Cervical vaccine ruling puts women at risk

THE Government has dealt yet another blow to the fight against cervical cancer. The Department of Health has decided that a new vaccine against the disease will not be made available on the medical card scheme or reimbursable under community drug schemes.

This decision, made on cold financial grounds, will put the lives of Irishwomen at risk. The new vaccine, Gardasil, is available in three separate doses, but the cost to women is prohibitive. Including GP consultations, the treatment can cost up to €600.

Clearly, this is beyond what many women can afford and there are reports that some have taken out loans to pay for the vaccination.

Waiting times for the results of routine cervical smear tests have risen steadily in recent years, and women in Cork have to wait an incredible six months for their results at Cork University Hospital.

As with all forms of cancer, early intervention is crucial and a six-month delay is putting the lives of Cork women in lethal danger. Cervical cancer is highly preventable, yet Ireland has one of the highest rates in Europe with over 70 deaths per annum.

The cervical cancer vaccine was approved for use in Europe last year and should also be made available here. The decision not to allow it under the medical card scheme is shameful and should be reversed immediately, as a first step in addressing this national scandal.

Senator Paul Bradford

Seanad Éireann

Dublin 2