Madam Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Charles Dent on October 12th regarding mammography screening for breast cancer.

Madam Speaker, at this time, a policy for mammography testing for the Northwest Territories has not been developed. A policy is not practical in an evolving field which may require rapid changes to medical practice.

The department's position is that mammography screening should be offered every one to two years to women ages 50 to 69. This is the only age group for which there is good and compelling scientific evidence that routine screening, coupled with clinical breast examination, can actually reduce mortality by 33 per cent from breast cancer. These guidelines have been endorsed by a growing number of authoritative bodies around the world.

Experts do not agree on the role of routine mammography screening for women ages 40 to 49. British Columbia is the only province in Canada that includes this group of women in a screening program for breast cancer.

Screening is an intervention aimed at individuals who are free of signs or symptoms of disease. It should not be undertaken unless a clear benefit can be shown. To date, no benefit has been shown scientifically for women under the age of 50 years.

The Department of Health and Social Services also recognizes the need for further public and professional education in this complex area. Mammography is only one component of a successful screening program against breast cancer. Another is clinical breast examinations.

The advanced nursing skills in-service program includes training for clinical breast examination to ensure that appropriate expertise will be available in all health centres in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.