Cervical cancer vaccine program scrapped

Nevyn · 05-11-2008 1:06pm #1

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1105/1225523373382.html

Government gives up cervical cancer vaccine plan
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ELAINE EDWARDS and MARTIN WALL

THE GOVERNMENT has abandoned a plan announced just three months ago to have all 12-year-old girls vaccinated against a virus that causes cervical cancer, citing "very scarce" health resources.

Minister for Health Mary Harney said yesterday that the economic situation had "rapidly and seriously" deteriorated since the plan was announced in August.

The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination would have cost an estimated €9.7 million annually. Between 70 and 80 women with cervical cancer die in Ireland each year and some 200 new cases are diagnosed.

The decision was immediately criticised by the Opposition and by the Irish Cancer Society, which asked the Government to make a clear commitment to restore the vaccination scheme "at the earliest possible opportunity".

In a statement, Ms Harney said: "Public resources, including those for health, are very scarce indeed and will remain so.

"I have decided that the best that can be achieved in these circumstances is to prioritise funding for the development of the cervical screening programme and treatment services at the eight designated cancer centres, which includes the challenge of funding very expensive cancer drugs.

"I will not therefore be proceeding with the introduction of a HPV vaccination programme," she added.

Later Ms Harney told reporters that the Health Service Executive had not been able to say how much the procurement cost for the vaccine would be.

But the Minister said that the administration cost, set out by the HSE was "not inconsiderable".

Irish Cancer Society chief executive John McCormack said the decision was "very disappointing".

"If this is going to be the beginning of a pattern around hard-fought decisions being reversed, the Irish Cancer Society would be awfully concerned about it," Mr McCormack added.

He acknowledged that it would be difficult to have a commitment made to the programme in the current economic environment.

"But this is a cancer prevention measure and one euro's prevention is as good as two euros of cure."

Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly said that the decision was "a slap in the face to people who believe in prevention being better than cure".

"For a miserly sum, they are now going to expose our children, our young women, to cervical cancer," he said.

Ms Harney said the continuation and expansion of the Cancer Control Programme under Prof Tom Keane "remains a priority" and that funding of €15 million had been made available for this programme.

Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín O Caoláin said that the decision was "disgraceful" at a time when tax breaks were being left intact for the developers of private hospitals.

The Minister said last night that the Government was currently rolling out the National Cervical Screening Programme, Cervical Check, which had the potential to cut mortality rates from cervical cancer by "up to 80 per cent".

"The programme will provide free smear tests through primary care settings to the 1.1 million women living in Ireland aged between 25 and 60 years," Ms Harney said.

There are more than 200 strains of HPV, a small number of which are associated with cancer of the cervix, the neck of the womb.

Up to 2,000 women in Ireland each year are diagnosed with changes to the cells of the cervix that, while not cancerous, have the potential to become cancerous over a long period of time if they are not treated.

© 2008 The Irish Times

ffs shows how much she care about women's health, really it's sheds loads cheaper then having to treat people for cancer.

Mena · 05-11-2008 1:08pm

Thaedydal wrote: »

health, really it's sheds loads cheaper then having to treat people for cancer.

Only in the long term, and we all know a politician can't see more than 5 minutes into the future.

Idiots :mad:

keane2097 · 05-11-2008 1:09pm

I heard this yesterday and must say I was absolutely appalled.

shellyboo · 05-11-2008 1:15pm

This is fcuking appaling. Surely the cost can be then offset by the lower need for smear testing across the board? If I was young enough, I'd be off to my doc to get the vaccine, I think it's a disgrace that they're scrapping something that could literally save lives and, in the future, save the HSE shedloads of cash.

Bottle_of_Smoke · 05-11-2008 1:26pm

Ridiculous, 9.7mil is nothing on what cancer costs, never mind the emotional trauma.

The vaccine also prevents against genital warts which being the most common STI costs the state a fair bit too.

brianthebard · 05-11-2008 1:44pm

Its a joke. Why can't we have a vote of no confidence in the government?

Dragan · 05-11-2008 2:08pm

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Ridiculous, 9.7mil is nothing on what cancer costs, never mind the emotional trauma.

That's a project 9.7 million, annually. Close to 100 million ( projected ) over it's first decade of being in action and thats not taking into account increase in population size of those who will need it and so forth.

I want to be very clear here that i think it is a mistake to not follow through with this, but i am also more than happy to admit that i don't have indept knowledge of how the countries coffers are at the moment, nor do i have a great deal on info on where this money would be better put.

As such, i am not going to accuse Mary Harney of sentencing people to death as this cannot have been an easy decision to make and it may have been a difficult case of the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few.

I will keep a close eye and see what other information comes out over the next couple of weeks.

rainbow kirby · 05-11-2008 2:41pm

Absolutely shocking. Yet again this government proves it has no regard for womens health.

Nevyn · 05-11-2008 2:41pm

With 70 deaths from the disease each year, Ireland has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in Europe. Experts say that a combination of vaccination and cervical cancer screening could prevent up to 95% of cases.

This is is depressing, most EU countries have already rolled this program out.

panda100 · 05-11-2008 2:58pm

This is absolutely disgraceful. Why did Harney allow ludicrous tax breaks to millionares to build private hospitals on public land? Why werent these property developers heavily taxed like we are being now? And then Drumm gets an €80,000 bonus on top of his €370,000 a year salary! As usual the rich get richer and the ordinary people have to pay for their mistakes.This 'no money' line is bullcrap.

On top of this Its a joke that Ireland doesnt have a free cervical screening programmes, most countries do.

Wibbs · 05-11-2008 3:07pm

panda100 wrote: »

This is absolutely disgraceful/This 'no money' line is bullcrap.

This just about sums it up for me. Another unreal decision from a bunch of morons adding to the long list of such decisions that have scuppered our appalling health service.

kmick · 05-11-2008 3:10pm

I think CJ Haughey said it best when he said "grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented". Mary must go.

Macha · 05-11-2008 3:12pm

Yes, according to this website:

A vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer would be a major step forward in womens’ health. It is hoped that the vaccines will prevent at least 70% (seven in ten) of the most common type of cervical cancer (squamous cell).

Why is it that this government does not GET long-term thinking? Surely investment in a programme like this would ultimately save them money? 180 women are diagnosed every year. Clearly the pockets of the builders are more precious to FF than women's wombs.

old boy · 05-11-2008 3:16pm

i hope all of you voted for that crowd in the last elections, remember all this when you go to vote in the future.

cuckoo · 05-11-2008 3:20pm

I'm a little conflicted about the issue of the vaccination - the manufacturers have spent a lot of time and money creating awareness of cervical cancer (good) and the benefits of their drug (good for their balance sheet).

I have no beef with drug manufacturers making a profit, but, this a vaccine that protects against a percentage of strains of the HPV virus that can lead to cervical cancer. Not all women with the virus will go on to develop cervical cancer.

This is not like the measles vaccine - it does not provide blanket protection against all HPV viruses. And, as there were no plans for a program for boys to receive the vaccine in Ireland (afaik), the HPV virus would still be alive and well in Ireland.

I'd rather the HSE spent the money on medical cards for the over 70s, and focused on the cervical screening program. Cervical cancer can be treated very succesfully if detected.

Yes, I am angry that the HSE doesn't have more money, and am suspicious that it mismanages that it does have a lot of the time - but we can't expect the government to pay for everything all the time. There's less money coming into Ireland's bank account - so Ireland needs to have less out goings.

shellyboo · 05-11-2008 3:21pm

panda100 wrote: »

On top of this Its a joke that Ireland doesnt have a free cervical screening programmes, most countries do.

I thought we did, no? Once every three years from the age of 25? Or do we have to pay for that?

Nevyn · 05-11-2008 3:23pm

shellyboo wrote: »

I thought we did, no? Once every three years from the age of 25? Or do we have to pay for that?

We have had to pay for that or try get an appointment in the local clinics with very very long waiting lists.

there is a new program to roll out free smear tests done in dr surgeries all around the country, the details are in the free fanny care thread.

shellyboo · 05-11-2008 3:27pm

Thaedydal wrote: »

We have had to pay for that or try get an appointment in the local clinics with very very long waiting lists.

there is a new program to roll out free smear tests done in dr surgeries all around the country, the details are in the free fanny care thread.

Ah, ok, cheers! Just wondering since I'll be going for my first one in a few months

I was under the impression that it was free - bit crap that we have to pay, but for the sake of your health I suppose people will pay anything.

Nevyn · 05-11-2008 3:33pm

Well check the web site and sign up on it.
http://www.cervicalcheck.ie/
Hopefully there will be someone doing it near you soon.

ronbyrne2005 · 05-11-2008 3:35pm

Yet the government have pledged billions in bailouts to their building chums thru their homechoice loans scheme and government equity scheme. Tell your friends never to vote for these corrupt selfish Fianna Fail-ures again.

Macha · 05-11-2008 3:38pm

I think a large problem with cervical checking in Ireland is that a lot of girls are under the impression that you either have to be over 25 or be sexually active.

A journalist friend of mine has interviewed girls in their early 20s who had to have developed cervical cancer, who waited and waited.

I didn't think I could hate FF any more but...they just managed to trump themselves!

Nevyn · 05-11-2008 3:49pm

Well I have emailed Harney and all of my T.D.s letting them know just how unhappy about this I am.

shellyboo · 05-11-2008 3:52pm

Thaedydal wrote: »

Well check the web site and sign up on it.
http://www.cervicalcheck.ie/
Hopefully there will be someone doing it near you soon.

Thanks Thaed... had a look at the site and looks like my own doctor does it (she's a women's health specialist). Hurrah, but boo for speculums

Nevyn · 05-11-2008 3:58pm

Better a speculum now and then then a cauterising laser and chemo later.

Sherifu · 05-11-2008 3:59pm

Read about this earlier. They have their priorities straight :rolleyes:

shellyboo · 05-11-2008 4:04pm

Thaedydal wrote: »

Better a speculum now and then then a cauterising laser and chemo later.

Eep! Good point. I shall embrace the speculum then so.

Macha · 05-11-2008 4:12pm

Yes...the laser is not fun...:(

tallaght01 · 05-11-2008 4:58pm

I'm all for preventative measured for diseases like cervical ca.

BUT, if times were tough, and I had to choose what to spend 100 million on over the next decade, I have to say cervical screening vaccines probably wouldn't be my number 1 priority.

In good times, it is well worth it, But it would depend on what we were going to sacrifice. If we spent the money on the vaccines, what exactly would we NOT spend it on?

That, to me, is the key question.

We should also bear in mind that making our economic situation worse in the pursuit of a cervical ca magic bullet is a double edged sword, because the disease affects poorer women the most. So, protecting the economy is an important part of the fight against most diseases.

I don't know enough of the details of this specific situation to try and work out whether it's the right choice or the wrong choice. But it's not quite as simple as it is maybe being made out.

walshb · 05-11-2008 5:20pm

I read that about the vaccine being scrapped and I think it's a disgrace, considering soon after I also read this.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/state-spend-on-foreign-aid-to--hit-8364900m-in-2008-1521700.html

The sums just don't add up!

tallaght01 · 05-11-2008 5:34pm

walshb wrote: »

I read that about the vaccine being scrapped and I think it's a disgrace, considering soon after I also read this.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/state-spend-on-foreign-aid-to--hit-8364900m-in-2008-1521700.html

The sums just don't add up!

I don't think foreign aid should be cut. We will still have the poor man's vaccination programme (ie the screenig programme), and the proper vaccination programme will be implemented eventually.

Aid to the 3rd world is about last chances. To my mind anyway, the 6 month old dying of gastroenteritis for want of some oral rehydration solution in Somalia is just as deserving of our money as the 12 year old irish girl, who probably still has a few years before she's really at risk of HPV infection.

Macha · 05-11-2008 5:42pm

In fairness, our foreign aid is extremely, extremely important. So I can't agree with you there.

Cervical cancer vaccine program scrapped

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