Filenews 6 May 2025
All beneficiaries of the General Health System, belonging to the age group of 50 – 74 years, are invited to participate in the population screening program for the detection of colon cancer. If the result of the first test is negative, the beneficiary will receive a new invitation after two years.
The Ministry of Health, according to a relevant announcement sent to GHS doctors through the Health Insurance Organization, will send an e-mail update every three months to personal doctors about the beneficiaries who are included in their lists and will be invited to participate in the program.
At the same time, the Ministry of Health "will send an invitation by post to all selected beneficiaries regarding their ability to participate in the program".
Through the invitation, the beneficiaries will be invited to contact their personal doctor in order to issue them a referral for the FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) stool examination through the GHS IT system. This test concerns the testing of a stool sample for latent blood.
In the same communication, as the Ministry of Health explains in its announcement, "the beneficiaries will receive the stool sample collection kit, an information leaflet for colon cancer, a sample packaging envelope and a list with the contact details of the general hospitals and Health Centers of the OCYPY that will participate in the program".
After the collection of the faecal sample, "the beneficiaries will place the sample in the packaging envelope which they will have to deliver to any Health Center or general hospital of the OCYPY included in the list, in a special box that has been placed at their entrance for this purpose".
All samples will be collected throughout Cyprus and will end up in the microbiological laboratory of the Limassol General Hospital where the examination will be performed.
"The result of the faecal examination will be posted in the GHS IT system in the same way that all the results of laboratory tests are posted for the information of the referring doctors."
In the event that the result of the test is negative, the beneficiary will be informed. The process will be repeated in two years.
In the event that the result of the examination is positive, the Ministry of Health "will send information to the beneficiaries informing them of the required actions, which include the need to contact their PI for the issuance of a referral to a gastroenterologist for further investigation with colonoscopy, where appropriate".
