Brazil faces major rise in breast and cervical screening demand
Monday 22 September 2008 unknown author - user

Brazil introduces initiatives and targets aimed at reducing mortality and morbidity from cancers of the breast and cervix Photo: PRLog.com

The quality and accessibility of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic care of cancers of the breast and cervix in Brazil will, from 2009, be guaranteed by law. In a bid to strengthen initiatives launched this year under the Mais Saude ("More health") public health programme, legislation passed earlier this month focuses on early diagnosis, with major implications for the screening market.

This year saw the introduction of initiatives and targets (to 2011) aimed at reducing mortality and morbidity from these diseases, totalling some 15,000 per year. The foundation of the programme is access to screening/diagnostics. The health ministry estimates that under the new law, the overall number of initial screening tests involved will increase from 7 million to 11.5 million in the 25-59-year range alone, while a further 4.8 million will also be provided in the 50-69 age range.

Policy and capacity reviews ahead

The programme will be supported by a review of the medical-scientific "consensus" document that was produced in 2004 to define best practice in cancer care.

With regard specifically to breast screening, the current aim is to routinely screen annually all women aged 40-49 (in higher-risk cases, such as a family history, annual screening should be offered from the age of 35); and biennially, at most, women aged 50-69. In this last group, 300 women out of every 100,000 develop breast cancer.

The national cancer institute (INCA) is to bring together "all parties" involved in the current document to redraft official policy "in light of the new law's provisions". As part of this exercise, INCA is to assess regional screening capacity needs and the likely impact of the programme on the wider national health system (SUS).

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