Launch of HUK Report in Stormont: ‘Economic impactof Screening for HH in NI’

Haemochromatosis UK launched their latest report at the NI Assembly in Stormont, Belfast, which evaluates the economic costs and benefits of screening for genetic haemochromatosis in Northern
Ireland. David Beggy and Miriam Forde, Irish Haemochromatosis Association attended the event, where HUK, CEO, Neil McClements welcomed Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Dr Steve Aiken (Deputy Assembly Speaker) and almost a hundred guests from the GH community, policymakers, clinicians and officials from the Department of Health NI.

You can read a full copy of the report here: www.haemochromatosis.org.uk/ni-screening

The report reveals that there is a clear economic case for routine population-based genetic haemochromatosis screening in Northern Ireland under a range of assumptions for the prevalence of
haemochromatosis.

• Screening saves lives, saves money
• For every £1 spent on screening, over £3 of benefit is generated
• The case for screening is strongest for people in their 40s – both men and women
• Over the past 3 years, Haemochromatosis UK has been running cross-community screening programmes across Northern Ireland (and in other areas of high prevalence across the UK).