Cervical cancer: Next week the first SMS for free exams

The next week begins the multi-advertised screening program for the cervix. The action is planned to cover 2,432,000 . Free Pap and HPV DNA test includes free screening for 2.5 million women in our country, with a view to early diagnosis of cervical cancer. After significant delays the Joint Ministerial Decision was published, which determines how the examinations are to be carried out. The first SMS will begin to be sent to beneficiary women’s mobile phones within March starting next week. The action is expected to cover 2,432,000 women if of course they respond to the state’s call. The action aims to early detect findings that can lead to cervical cancer. There are some formal arrangements left in the EDICA’s computer systems to send referrals and record the results of the examinations. The first SMS will begin to be sent to women in the age group 21-29. Subsequently, within reasonable time, HPV-DNA TEST referrals will be drawn up for the women in the 30-65 age group. See the KYA HERE It is worth noting that the screening programme notified through the CYA does not include the technique of self-sampling, self-sampling, which was announced at the recent ELLOC conference. It was a way, as had been mentioned, to reach preventive control in every corner of Greece, even in border areas. It remains to be determined now that they will gain access to free control of women areas with difficult accessibility. What KYA predicts According to KYA, benefiting from “action” – as the law characterizes the process – are “Greeks and women citizens of other countries legally residing in the Greek Territory”. The conditions to be met by women are: (a) Be part of the age group between 21-65 years, (b) have to have a Social Security Register Number (AMKA), regardless of whether they have an active insurance capacity, (c) have not undergone, partial or total, hysterectomy due to cancer, (d) have not been diagnosed with cervical cervical cancer type C 53.0, 1, 8, 9, (e) have not been diagnosed with cancer of the uterus type C 54.0, C 55.0, (f) have not carried out a PAP-TEST examination, during the 3 calendar years preceding the entry into force of the participation call, (g) if they belong to the age under-group between 21 – 29 years and have not carried out HPV-DNATEST during the 3 calendar years preceding the entry into force of the call; Why doctors disagree with the term “action” In contrast to the term “action” appears speaking in iatropedia.gr the Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology AUTH and Chairman of the Board of the Hellenic Society of HPV, Theodoros Buyer. “It is a very positive step, no one doubts that. But it should be clarified what the law says, which describes an “action”. The Ministry of Health, however, and the Deputy Minister of Health are talking about “a screening programme”. Another “action” that is once and for all, and another “programme” that has no expiry date, is continued and has funding from the Ministry of Health budget,” the Professor notes. What will be the procedure? In the first phase of the programme, referrals for women aged 21 to 29 will be sent. References for the most expensive molecular HPV-DNA TEST will receive benefits from the 30-65-year-old age group. The test references for those women who have activated the immaterial prescription will be issued automatically according to the AMCA, while the referrals will automatically be sent either by SMS or by e-mail, just as was the case with mammograms. The power of referrals will be six months. The other beneficiaries may, using their AMKA, apply to a public or private Health Care Unit of their choice, the printing of the written reference from the Electronic Prescription System (SIS). If a finding requiring further investigation is found during the PAP-TEST or HPV-DNA TEST examination, two referrals, vaginal and biopsy shall be issued with a total duration of three months. Where will the tests take place? The examinations are carried out in public and private Health Care Units which provide primary health care services. These structures may participate in the programme and specific compensation is provided for with specific amounts by the Ministry of Health. These structures include Health Centers, Regional Medical Centers, external hospital clinics, private hospitals, polyiatry, diagnostic laboratories, private clinics operating external medical execution departments and examinations included in this action, and any other structure recognised by the state and providing legal medical services. The expenditure of the action, as part of the overall ‘Doxiadis Spyros’ prevention programme, is covered by resources from the Recovery and Durability Fund. Professor Theodore Buyer insists on expressing his agony. If a woman is examined today and negative, will she be able to repeat the examination after 3 or 5 years when she may have developed cervical cancer?, she wonders. “What is being promoted today has an expiry date of 31/12/25, so it has a lifetime of 1.5 year and limited funding from RRF. And the law says the action is finite at the end of next year. So he says nothing to this woman what he will do next. What needs to be done is that Greece, like all the advanced countries, acquires a National Programme for Pre-Summary Control, which has no expiry date and has secured funding. That’s the warning difference. This is now a limited rehearsal”, concludes Professor Th. Buyer. source: Iatropedia.gr – Reportage: Janna Soulaki