Doctors argue about cervical cancer screening

Health insurance companies want to realign the early detection of cervical cancer

02/20/2015

Health insurance companies and doctors are arguing about a new screening method for the early detection of cervical cancer. So far, women over 20 get a free Pap smear. But you have to pay for the HPV test yourself. The coffers have been calling for some time for the more innovative HPV test to replace the old method.

New test for the early detection of cervical cancer
The new HPV test should be clearly superior to the previous method, shares the Barmer GEK. „This test is more sensitive and detects malignant cell changes earlier than the smear test paid for decades. There are enough indications for its use, so that we can build on it a new program for the early detection of cervical cancer, "said the CEO Christoph Straub at the presentation of the Barmer GEK medical report 2015 in Berlin on Thursday in. The women should also be actively invited to the check-up.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered the main risk factor for cervical cancer. Every year, about 5,000 women get ill in Germany and 1,600 do not survive the disease, as Barmer GEK reports. In a worldwide comparison, the rate is very low.

Health insurers want to enforce HPV testing as the standard method for the early detection of cervical cancer
The statutory health insurances (GKV) and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) are currently arguing about the right method for the early detection of cervical cancer. While the health insurances are in favor of the HPV test for women between the ages of 30 and 60, the doctors still want to offer the women a free Pap smear once a year. As the Barmer GEK further reports, the medical profession sees the HPV test, which is not yet taken over by the coffers, only as an additional option.

The doctor's report 2015 focuses on cervix cancer. In addition to the prevention methods, it is also about the taken over by the health insurance HPV vaccine for girls. The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) advises vaccination at the age of nine to 14 years. Until the fall of 2014, the vaccination recommendation still affected the age group 12 to 17. In general, the HPV vaccine is most effective if it takes place before the first sexual intercourse, so the RKI. However, girls and young women can also be vaccinated afterwards. A claim for the recovery of the vaccine and the completion of the vaccine protection exists until the age of 18 years. The cost of the HPV vaccine then take over the cash. (Ag)

Picture: Tim Reckmann