Health and Community Services
March 19, 2010
Provincial Colorectal
Cancer Screening Program Announced
The Provincial Government is continuing
its commitment to further enhance and improve cancer care throughout the
province with the implementation of a new Provincial Colorectal Cancer
Screening Program. The Williams Government will invest $240,000 in
Budget 2010 to begin implementing the program. This investment is part
of a $4.3 million commitment over three years.
"Our government recognizes the importance
of implementing programs that increase the early detection of all types
of cancer, including colorectal cancer, which is the third most common
cancer for men and women nationally and provincially," said the
Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services.
"We understand that detecting cancer early remains the best strategy for
improving survival and increasing the quality of life for those living
with cancer. Our commitment to the fight against cancer continues with
the establishment of this new screening program. Enhancing the
healthcare programs and services we provide to the residents of our
province remains a top priority."
The goal of the Provincial Colorectal
Cancer Screening Program is to reduce mortality due to colorectal cancer
in the province, through the early detection of cancer in patients who
may carry the disease, but have no symptoms. The target age group will
be all men and women between 50 and 74 years of age. The screening
program complements other government initiatives that focus on improving
health, including the Provincial Wellness Plan, the Poverty Reduction
Strategy and the Healthy Aging Policy Framework.
The screening program will be
administered by Eastern Health as part of its responsibility for the
Provincial Cancer Care Program. Phase one will involve introductory
screening for individuals in a select area. The program will expand
incrementally to encompass the entire province, and once fully
implemented will require an estimated $3 million in annual funding.
"We welcome this investment by the
Provincial Government to implement a screening program for colorectal
cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Vickie Kaminski, President
and CEO of Eastern Health. "The screening program will play a
significant role in the early detection of this disease which will help
decrease the morbidity rates. We look forward to adding another
important component to the Provincial Cancer Care Program."
"The significant enhancements to
colorectal cancer screening services are likely to have an effect on
demand for colonoscopies and other endoscopy services," said Minister
Kennedy. "In order to prepare for the potential increased demand for
services the Department of Health and Community Services will be working
with the Regional Health Authorities to ensure we have efficient and
effective endoscopy services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador."
Newfoundland and Labrador has invested
significantly in cancer treatment and
prevention in recent years, including $10.9 million for the purchase of
12 digital mammography units for communities across the province, $10.6
million for the construction of bunkers and the purchase of two new
radiation machines for the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Treatment Centre,
and $17.2 million for new medical equipment, such as Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scanners, to diagnose and
treat cancer and other diseases. These investments are in addition to
two new cancer centres in central Newfoundland and the expansion of the
cervical cancer screening program province-wide.
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2010 03 19
10:05 a.m.
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