§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards a full universal cancer screening programme; what estimates of the cost and benefits of such a scheme have been made by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Currie[holding answer 13 May 1988]: Before a screening method for any cancer was introduced on a routine basis it would need to be assessed against the principles of screening formulated for the World Health Organisation (WHO). These include:
there should be a suitable test which is acceptable to the population,treatment of the disease at an early stage should be of more benefit than treatment started at a later stage,the chance of physical or psychological harm to those screened should be less than the chance of benefit,the cost of a screening programme should be balanced against the benefit it provides.There are over 200 different cancers and, as yet, no established screening tests for most of them individually, or a universal test, which would meet the WHO criteria. The question of introducing a full universal screening programme has not, therefore, been considered.
Screening for breast and cervical cancer meets the WHO criteria and national programmes have therefore been set up. Research is being undertaken into possible screening for other cancers.