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HTA of Colorectal Cancer Screening

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Foreword

The Health Information and Quality Authority undertook this health technology Assessment (HTA) in response to a request from the National Cancer Screening Service Board. The HTA was completed and submitted as advice to the Minister of Health and the National Cancer Screening Service Board

This HTA led to a subsequent request from the then Minister for Health and Children to evaluate the resources assigned to the current population-based national cancer screening programmes to identify efficiencies that may be achieved within the present models and to evaluate colonoscopy services, and associated resources, within the HSE in order to support the provision of a national colorectal cancer screening programme in Ireland. This evaluation can be found here.

In January 2010, following due consideration of the evidence from both HTAs, a decision was made to introduce a national population-based colorectal cancer screening programme from 2012.

The purpose of the HTA was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of various options for a population-based colorectal cancer screening programme in Ireland and also to estimate the resource requirements and health outcomes that would result in the first decade following the implementation of such a programme.

Colorectal cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in both men and women in Ireland. On average, 2040 new cases are diagnosed each year with Ireland having the highest mortality rates for colorectal cancer for men in Western Europe.

This HTA evaluated the cost-effectiveness, health outcomes and resource requirements of various options for a population-based colorectal cancer screening programme.

A population-based screening programme involves inviting a defined population who are at average risk for the disease (that is, do not have medical conditions that put them at higher risk of developing colorectal cancer or a strong family history of colorectal cancer) to attend for screening.