The Ministry of Health has announced the launch of a new screening programme for the early detection of colorectal cancer. The programme is open to all beneficiaries of the general healthcare system (GeSY) who are between the ages of 50 and 74.
The procedure provides for the following steps:
- The Ministry of Health will send an invitation to participate in the programme by post to all eligible persons. In this invitation, beneficiaries will be asked to contact their GP to obtain a referral for a FIT stool test (faecal immunochemical test) via the GeSY system.
- In the same communication, the beneficiaries will also receive the stool sample collection kit, an information sheet on colorectal cancer, an envelope for sample packaging and a list with the contact details of the general hospitals and health centres of the State Health Service Organisation (SHSO) – public providers participating in the programme.
- After collecting the stool sample, beneficiaries shall place the sample in the packaging envelope to be delivered to an SHSO provider included in the list.
- All collected samples are to be sent to the microbiological laboratory of the Limassol General Hospital, where the examinations will be carried out.
- The result of the faecal examination will be entered into the Health Insurance Organisation’s system for the information of the referring doctors, just as the results of all laboratory tests are entered.
If the result of the first test is negative, the beneficiary will receive a new invitation after two years. If the test result is positive, the Ministry of Health will inform the beneficiaries of the necessary measures. This includes contacting their GP to issue a referral to a gastroenterologist for further investigation with colonoscopy if appropriate.