Sardinia brings up the rear for free cancer screening in Italy . This is the grim picture that emerges from the Gimbe Foundation report on the 2023 data from the National Screening Observatory (ONS) , and which highlights, once again, the difficulties of the health network on the Island .
The study examined three screenings: breast screening, which places Sardinia in 20th place nationally , and then cervical and colorectal screening, which places the island in 17th place.
"It is clear - comments the president of the Gimbe Foundation, Nino Cartabellotta - that on the invitations front many Regions must improve their organizational capabilities. However, the main criticality remains the low adherence to screening: more information, effective communication strategies and active involvement of citizens are needed. Because adhering to organized screening means early diagnosis, timely treatment of pre-cancerous lesions, a greater number of definitive recoveries, less suffering for patients, lower costs for the NHS and, above all, fewer deaths from cancer".
Overall, at a national level, there were 50 thousand missed diagnoses in 2023 alone , including tumors and pre-cancerous lesions. With 1 in 2 people missing breast and cervical checks, and 2 in 3 colorectal checks.
"Overall - says Cartabellotta - in 2023 almost 16 million people were invited to take a screening test, but only 6.9 million joined".
The oncology screenings included in the Essential Levels of Assistance (Lea), which all Regions are required to offer free of charge, include: mammography for women between 50 and 69 years of age (in some regions not subject to recovery plans extended to women between 45-49 and 70-74); cervical cancer screening for women between 25 and 64 years of age; and colorectal cancer for women and men between 50 and 69 years of age (in some regions also in the 70-74 age group).
