€35 cost for ‘free’ smear re-tests

WOMEN wanting a follow-up cervical cancer screening test could find themselves having to pay up to €85 if they wish to have the results analysed in Ireland.

Sinn Féin TD for Louth and East Meath Imelda Munster has expressed fury at the reports from women in the Louth area who have been told the free smear tests promised by Simon Harris in the wake of the Cervical Check scandal will cost an extra €35, if women elect not to have their results outsourced to American labs.

“I received calls today from women in my constituency who were outraged to learn from their GPs this week that they would have to pay €85 for a repeat smear test, despite claims made by Ministers Simon Harris and Regina Doherty that free smear tests would be available for all women who had concerns about the Cervical Check scandal and wished to take an additional test, “said Deputy Munster.

“In cases where women choose for their lab work to be carried out in this state, they have been asked to pay €50 for a GP visit and €35 for the smear test.”

The Louth deputy said that many women in Ireland have lost confidence in the outsourcing of lab tests to the United States and would prefer that their tests be carried out at home.

“It is disingenuous of Simon Harris to announce that these repeat tests are free, when in fact they are not”,” she added. “Despite all the hurt, damage, and deaths that this scandal has caused, that the government has learned absolutely nothing.”