AQW 44062/11-15

Mrs Jo-Anne Dobson
Ulster Unionist Party
Upper Bann

Tabled Date: 23/03/2015
Answered On Date: 09/04/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps are being taken to work towards a screening test for pancreatic cancer.

Answer:

My Department is advised by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) about all aspects of screening. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, the UK NSC assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria covering the condition, the test, the treatment options and the effectiveness and acceptability of the screening programme. Assessing programmes in this way is intended to ensure that they do more good than harm at a reasonable cost.

Currently there is no evidence base to support a screening programme for pancreatic cancer. My Department does not hold information into research being carried out worldwide, however should evidence of an effective screening test become available, this would be considered by the NSC.