The DHSS is under renewed pressure to provide bowel screening in the Isle of Man.
When the subject was raised in the House of Keys, Minister Eddie Teare said it was a high priority but, at the moment, his department was unable to find enough money to provide the service.
The total cost for the first year of the programme would be in the region of ?430,000.
But Mr Teare was able to offer some hope, telling members (play attached audio file):
"The director of public health and a senior clinician are to meet with the chief executive officer and the medical director of Clatterbridge next month to discuss the way forward, to see if and when we can bring this service in.
"I am anxious to see it introduced, but at the moment we still have an awful lot of hurdles to get over."
Meanwhile, a new bowel cancer charity will be launched on the Island later this week.
Bowel Cancer Isle of Man aims to raise awareness, and advance the education of the general public in respect of the disease.
The charity has been formed by Heather Norman who underwent treatment for bowel cancer in 2001, and Zoe Hawley who was shocked when one of her friends was diagnosed at the age of 22.
The number of cases among young people in England and Wales increased by 117 per cent between 1997 and 2006.
The charity will be launched on Friday.
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