Harney price talks restore hope for cervical cancer jab
Health Minster Mary Harney. Photo: Peter Muhly, Getty Images
Tuesday December 30 2008
HEALTH Minister Mary Harney has instructed the Health Service Executive (HSE) to pursue price negotiations with manufacturers of a cervical cancer vaccine.
In a sign of possible softening of her refusal to fund the cost of the jab, the minister is preparing the ground for an eventual introduction of a publicly-funded vaccine.
It comes after she stirred massive controversy by cancelling a promised programme two months ago.
Ms Harney announced last August that a programme of cervical jabs would be rolled out to all 12-year-old schoolgirls from next year. The cost at the time was estimated at €10m.
But weeks later the minister withdrew her commitment because of the state of the national finances.
The Government decision left parents having to find around €600 for the inoculation to be administered privately.
Fourteen other European countries have made the jab available free to young girls on the grounds of public health.
But Ms Harney said the roll-out of national cervical screen next year was the priority. This was the clinical advice on the matter, Ms Harney said, while reserving her future position on the vaccine.
Sponsored
Now, however, she has mandated the HSE to approach manufacturers like Gardasil to see what the best price might be. The minister is also understood to be open to the idea of the jabs being sponsored.
She has called on the HSE "to go through the normal procurement procedures to select an appropriate supplier who can make the vaccine available at the most advantageous price".
She said she was "committed to keeping the introduction of a HPV vaccination programme under active review".
- Senan Molony Deputy Political Editor
