AQW 995/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health when Northern Ireland will switch to using HPV testing rather than cytological tests to check for cervical cancer.
Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 6 June 2022
- Answered
- Written
- Priority
- Tabled
- 6 June 2022
- Answer due by
- 14 June 2022
- Answered
- 9 June 20223 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- Yes
Answer
The Cancer Strategy launched in March 2022 indicated that primary HPV testing would be introduced into the Cervical Screening Programme in 2022/23.
My Department’s Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) is currently working with the Public Health Agency and Regional Pathology Network to progress this action. It is anticipated that this will be partially completed within the next 12 months and will be dependent on confirmation of budgets to support this service change.