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It is with great pleasure that I am with you today, at the ceremony of the official receipt of five Mammographs from OPAP, for the needs of the Mammography Program.
The upgrading of the screening population programme for breast cancer and the introduction of screening programmes for other cancers, within the framework of the European guidelines for cancer, for the purposes of early detection and, accordingly, treatment, are a priority of the Governance Framework of the President of the Republic, Mr.
The upgraded operation of Mammography Centres in all Districts is part of the effort undertaken to ensure that women beneficiaries, based on age criteria, have access to quality, specialised, trustworthy and safe services, as they deserve.
Mammography Centres across the country have been upgraded in terms of staffing and infrastructure.
Mammography Centres across the country have been upgraded in terms of staffing and infrastructure. With the current donation by OPAP Cyprus of the latest digital mammography technology, the equipment is also being upgraded. These also provide the possibility of high-resolution tomosynthesis, in accordance with the latest guidelines of the European Strategic Plan against Cancer, which makes it capable of detecting the smallest abnormalities, thus significantly improving the chances of early diagnosis and successful treatment.
None of this would have been possible without the long-standing support and generosity of OPAP Cyprus Ltd, which not only funded this pioneering mammography system but also four other similar systems across the island. I would like to thank once again the Board of Directors of OPAP as well as the CEO Mr. Dimitris Aletraris for their substantial and sincere support. OPAP Cyprus, after all, financed our previous systems 13 years ago, showing its persistent dedication to the health and well-being of our fellow human beings.
Today, we can say with confidence that all the Centres will meet the required specifications, with the interventions being carried out, so that the process of their accreditation will gradually proceed. Especially for this purpose, we are participating in a project funded by the European Commission, where common quality and performance indicators will be set for not only national but also for evaluation purposes at the EU level.
In addition, I would like to mention that as the Ministry of Health we are proceeding with the installation of a Radiology Information System (RIS). This system will revolutionize not only the appointment scheduling and alert management process, but also the quality of diagnoses by our radiologists. With the help of the system, radiologists will be able to efficiently generate women's medical reports, leading to improved communication and expedited care with women. The system will even allow for alerts to be sent via phone message, making it easier for women to keep track of their healthcare schedule. In addition, it will make it possible to enter the results in the electronic file of beneficiaries in the GHS.
Health, as we know, is the highest form of freedom, the one that allows us to live our lives to the fullest, with dignity and happiness. Our goal is to preserve this freedom for every woman in Cyprus.
As a reminder, population screening programmes are not covered by the services offered by the GHS, as they are public health programmes and are therefore offered free of charge by the Ministry of Health. Based on existing planning, in addition to the Breast Cancer Screening Programme covering women aged 45-74 years, which is already being implemented, it is planned to launch the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme in October 2023 and the Prostate Cancer Screening Programme by the end of the year. It is estimated that the population-based screening programme for cervical cancer can be implemented in 2024, thus giving even more impetus and importance to prevention.
Dear and valued colleagues,
We move forward on the journey of introducing and implementing population-based screening programmes with optimism and with the certainty that our efforts today will translate into a healthy and bright tomorrow. Mammography Centers are not just medical facilities. They are a symbol of hope, the promise of better health, quality and proof of our relentless pursuit of medical excellence.
Thank you all for your commitment and unwavering support for better health for all.
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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