Ireland has one of highest breast cancer death rates in world
Ireland has one of the highest breast cancer death rates in the developed world, an international study revealed today.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found 28% of women diagnosed with the disease in 2004 died.
Just two out of 30 countries, Hungary and Denmark, reported a higher mortality rate.
Meanwhile, the death rate from prostate cancer was almost 6% higher than the OECD average.
The 'Health at a Glance' report will put more pressure on health chiefs to sort out the crisis in cancer services across the country.
Last week the Health Service Executive was forced to try and ease the issue by listing 20 centres they vowed would meet standards in care with weekly multidisciplinary team meetings.
That followed news that a string of women – once given the all clear – have been diagnosed with breast cancer after a review of tests at Midland Hospital, Portlaoise. Further women are awaiting results.
The HSE maintains that between now and the end of 2009, it will have met its target to have 90% of cancer services transferred to the eight Centres of Excellence.
“What these figure show is that we need a cancer strategy that is properly resourced, and expertly managed,” said Labour’s Jan O’Sullivan.
“As is clear from events in recent days, there is a serious issue around quality control in the treatment of cancer, and no cancer strategy should put practitioners in a position where they have to cut corners or compromise on the quality of care available.
“It is crucial that the proposed centres of excellence be given whatever finances they need to operate efficiently.”
The OECD report broke down the state of health care across 30 countries across the EU, United States, Canada, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
It showed that Ireland was also one of the biggest consumers of alcohol and tobacco – knocking back 13.5 litres of alcohol per capita, with Luxembourg being the only nation to drink more, and having 27% of the population smoking.
Despite this, 83% of Irish people rated their health to be good or very good or excellent compared with the OECD average of 69%, placing Ireland in sixth position.
Life expectancy in Ireland in 2005 was 79.5 years – 12 months longer than the OECD average – with infant mortality down to just four deaths per 1,000 live births.
In terms of spending on health, it noted that total expenditure on health accounted for 7.5% of GDP in Ireland in 2005.
The OECD reported Ireland and Korea increased spending on their health care systems the most between 1995 and 2005, with the Government now spending $2,926 (adjusted for purchasing power parity) per capita.
