BreastCheck may be extended to younger and older women in plans under examination
Currently, it covers women aged 50 to 69 years and invites them for screening.
Independent TD for Offaly, Deputy Carol Nolan, asked health minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, if the programme could be broadened to women over 70.
In response, the minister said that the Programme for Government commits to raising the age for the BreastCheck screening programme in line with updated standards from HIQA and work will shortly begin to establish whether the current age range should be extended.
'I am intent on advancing the cancer screening commitments outlined in the Programme for Government, which will be facilitated through established protocols. The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is the independent expert group that considers proposed changes to Ireland's screening programmes.
'NSAC assesses the evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria, before making recommendations to myself as Minister for Health.
'The rigorous processes utilised by NSAC are critical to ensure that our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms,' Minister Carroll MacNeill said.
She told Deputy Nolan: "In this regard, I am pleased to report that NSAC is progressing work to consider the further expansion of our cancer screening programmes and has submitted a request to the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), which has a section dedicated to undertaking evidence synthesises on behalf of the committee, to assess the evidence for a proposed expansion to the age range eligibility of the BreastCheck programme to include those aged 45 to 49 years and those aged 70 to 74 years.
'I should highlight that Hiqa is currently focused on the conclusion of two Health Technology Assessment (HTA) processes to examine a proposed age-range expansion to the BowelScreen programme and the potential development of a screening programme for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA).
'The evidence review for the expansion of BreastCheck remains a key priority for NSAC and is expected to commence later this year. '
She added that it would involve 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.Health technology assessments are time-intensive and rigorous processes, she added.
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