Cancer screening pledge was ‘just electoral ploy’ – Caruana
Matthew Vella
Labour MP Justyne Caruana has come out against the government’s stand on a national cervical cancer screening programme, which it will not be introducing before the commencement of its breast cancer screening programme.
Malta is one of just two EU member states to lack a screening programme for cervical cancer, along with Cyprus, and has no plans for one either.
The information has emerged from a memo by the European Commission on the implementation of a Council recommendation on cancer screening.
In its official reply to the Commission, the social policy ministry said it will only consider screening for cervical and bowel cancers on the basis of “experience gained through implementing the breast screening programme. This will help guide decisions on the planning and design of other screening programmes for other cancers.”
“Since before the last general election, the government has been saying it would introduce screening but it has no plans yet. This was just an irresponsible electoral ploy,” Caruana said.
“Two years have passed since they announced a screening programme, and many are urging the government to implement this programme. If the government is waiting to get information from the breast screening programme, which has not even started, before commencing a cervical cancer screening programme, then we certainly have yet more years to wait.”
Along with eight other states, Malta also has no plans for a screening programme for bowel cancer which affects both men and women.
The Commission is recommending breast screening for all women aged 50-69; faecal occult blood screening for bowel cancer for men and women aged 50-74; and pap smears for cervical abnormalities, starting between the ages of 20 and 30.
Malta’s breast screening programme is expected to be launched in September, but will be initially be limited to women aged 50 to 59 and will only be extended to women aged 60-69 years in subsequent cycles.
Caruana said the government was denying women a national prevention programme against doctors’ advice. “Women have to face screening waiting lists unless they are not actually diagnosed with cancer. It could be months before they are screened and then it could be too late for them.”
The MP said no everyone afforded to get screened at a private hospital and it was up to government to provide this service to everybody for free. “Life is precious and everything should be done to save it. That’s why we want the government to abide to the EU recommendation as soon as possible.”
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