Health written question – answered at on 23 April 2013.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to introduce early coeliac screening blood tests.
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, the Committee assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.
The UK NSC reviewed the evidence for screening for coeliac disease in 2008 and concluded that it does not meet the criteria for a national screening programme. There was a lack of knowledge of the natural history of the undetected cases and it was unclear whether patients detected through screening would adhere to a gluten free diet, therefore the real benefit of screening was questionable.
The policy is due to be reviewed later in the year.
Yes0 people think so
No1 person thinks not
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