Prostate cancer screening programme 'must be evidence-based', says Streeting

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By Sarah Lowden

The health secretary has suggested he would support a national prostate cancer screening programme for men at higher risk of disease if it is backed by the evidence.

The UK’s National Screening Committee is currently assessing whether or not a programme should be rolled out.

Routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests are not carried out on the NHS, unless prostate cancer is suspected. Men over 50 can ask for a PSA test, even if they do not have symptoms.

The argument against a national programme is that widespread PSA testing could identify cases which may not have caused problems or needed treatment.

Asked whether he would like to see a national prostate cancer screening programme for men at high risk of the disease, Mr Streeting told the House of Commons’ Health and Social Care Committee: “I would like to see that.

“But, and this is such an important but, decisions in this area do need to be evidence-based and evidence-led, and that’s why we have a National Screening Committee.