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09/05/2008
Preferred Bidder For Cervical Screening Labs Named
The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) has today announced a preferred bidder for the provision of laboratory testing services for the National Cervical Screening Programme.
This is an important milestone which will enable the NCSS to launch in the coming months the first quality assured, population based National Cervical Screening Programme for women in Ireland aged 25-60.
Quest Diagnostics - the world's leading diagnostic testing company - have been selected as the preferred service provider, following a rigorous and transparent procurement process, conducted under EU procurement guidelines.
Commenting on the announcement, Tony O'Brien, Chief Executive Officer of the National Cancer Screening Service, said: "The NCSS is satisfied that Quest Diagnostics can provide consistency on quality including a commitment to screen each slide twice by separate cytologists, consistency on turnaround of results and consistency on capacity."
Mr O'Brien concluded: "Our objective is to deliver the best quality of service for women in Ireland and we believe that we are now in a position to deliver on that promise."
The National Cervical Screening Programme will be free to all women in Ireland aged between 25 and 60 years of age. Screening will be provided every three years for women aged between 25 and 44 and every five years for women aged between 45 and 60 years of age in line with the best international practice.
The McGoogan Report on cervical screening in Ireland that was published in 2004 clearly stated that any cytology laboratory participating in a national screening programme must have applied for independent accreditation by January 2006.
The NCSS has consistently signalled that accreditation would be a minimum requirement for a successful bidder.
Last year, Minister for Health, Mary Harney said the national cervical screening programme would include initiatives to encourage women in disadvantaged groups to take up free screening.
She also promised to examine the potential role of vaccinations in the prevention of cervical cancer.
(JM)
This is an important milestone which will enable the NCSS to launch in the coming months the first quality assured, population based National Cervical Screening Programme for women in Ireland aged 25-60.
Quest Diagnostics - the world's leading diagnostic testing company - have been selected as the preferred service provider, following a rigorous and transparent procurement process, conducted under EU procurement guidelines.
Commenting on the announcement, Tony O'Brien, Chief Executive Officer of the National Cancer Screening Service, said: "The NCSS is satisfied that Quest Diagnostics can provide consistency on quality including a commitment to screen each slide twice by separate cytologists, consistency on turnaround of results and consistency on capacity."
Mr O'Brien concluded: "Our objective is to deliver the best quality of service for women in Ireland and we believe that we are now in a position to deliver on that promise."
The National Cervical Screening Programme will be free to all women in Ireland aged between 25 and 60 years of age. Screening will be provided every three years for women aged between 25 and 44 and every five years for women aged between 45 and 60 years of age in line with the best international practice.
The McGoogan Report on cervical screening in Ireland that was published in 2004 clearly stated that any cytology laboratory participating in a national screening programme must have applied for independent accreditation by January 2006.
The NCSS has consistently signalled that accreditation would be a minimum requirement for a successful bidder.
Last year, Minister for Health, Mary Harney said the national cervical screening programme would include initiatives to encourage women in disadvantaged groups to take up free screening.
She also promised to examine the potential role of vaccinations in the prevention of cervical cancer.
(JM)
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