DPH still mum on reported scrapping of programs

The Department of Public Health yesterday remained tight-lipped about the reported suspension of some chronic disease prevention programs due to funding problems.

At the same time, Commonwealth Health Center medical affairs director Robin Shearer said he was “asked to amend some points” regarding his disclosure on Tuesday that the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program was suspended effective last Nov. 3. He refused to name any DPH official when pressed about who instructed him to amend his statement.

Shearer said that the CHC continues to provide pap smear and mammogram services to patients. He said the cost of those services for patients who would have qualified under the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program would be shouldered by the government-run hospital.

Under the old screening program, Shearer noted that it used to pay for “breast cancer and cervical cancer screening examinations, such as mammograms and pap smears, to CNMI resident women who are within the 200-percent poverty guideline and are uninsured or insured but are required a co-payment.”

Shearer said the same criteria would be used by the hospital to determine eligibility for free screening services. Unlike the suspended health program, however, no person administers the current one provided by the hospital.

He said he was not aware of the funding source of the old screening program. The DPH reportedly circulated a memorandum informing its personnel about the suspension of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Program effective Nov. 3.

Deputy Secretary for Public Health Pete Untalan had yet to respond to the Saipan Tribune’s inquiries about the suspension of certain preventive care programs at the department.

Efforts to follow up on Untalan’s statements proved futile yesterday, with a staff saying that the deputy secretary could not be interviewed at press time.

Besides purportedly suspending the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program, the Public Health Department has also reportedly ceased the Cancer Registry Program following the government’s reprogramming of sin taxes that were earlier allotted for the project. The Diabetes Prevention and Control Program also reportedly faces funding problems.

Shearer, a board member of the Commonwealth Cancer Association, disclosed on Tuesday that the suspension of cancer-related health programs has raised a lot of anger from community members, including cancer survivors.

Saying that about 75 cases of cancer are diagnosed at the CHC yearly, Shearer explained that some diseases, such as cervical and prostate cancer, are curable upon early detection.

The hospital’s medical affairs director had expressed concern over the reported suspension of the cancer-related programs, saying that it would be pointless to wait for people to get incurable diseases before they happen.

“This is a big blow to anyone involved in preventive care. I don’t think it’s widely known, but it’s happened,” Shearer said. “From our aspect, the terrible thing is that they’re [public health programs] not providing the education and services to prevent the diseases.”

Shearer had said he would be at the forefront of those who would lobby for the reinstatement of the cancer-related programs when the incoming administration of governor-elect Benigno R. Fitial takes the helm of the CNMI government early next year.