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The coronavirus pandemic significantly reduced the scope of preventive inspections from last year. Preliminary data for January this year shows that in 2020. Just over 88,000 people participated in the cervical cancer prevention program. women, that is, about 29%. less than 2019 (123 thousand women).
86 thousand people received the services provided in the breast cancer prevention program. women, that is, 28%. less than in 2019 (119 thousand women). According to the prostate cancer early diagnosis program, 51,000 people were tested last year. men – 43 percent. less than last year (90 thousand men). 175 thousand people participated in the colon cancer diagnosis program. people (33% less), in 2019. – 261 thousand.
2020 In 2019, 217 thousand people participated in the cardiovascular disease prevention program. – 292 thousand. people – about 26 percent. less than in 2019.
“Out of fear of infection, in addition to believing that it is possible to register with a doctor only in exceptional cases, people avoid applying to medical institutions, waiting for the quarantine to end. As a result, a growing number of diseases are already diagnosed too late. are very advanced. Unfortunately, then the treatment is much more difficult. I urge all people to actively participate in free prevention programs. It is during their research that diseases can be identified at the earliest stage, “says Associate Professor Neringa Burokienė, a physician at the Family Medicine Center of the Santara Clinics of the Vilnius University Hospital.
According to her, even during quarantine, the implementation of prevention programs is not restricted or suspended, so patients can confidently consult their family doctor and verify.
The health insurance funds remind that people with PSD insurance can get free checkups by participating in five prevention programs: cervical, breast, prostate and colon cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
“This is an opportunity for many patients to get a free exam, because funds for preventive health research are allocated from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. Funding for these programs is only increasing each year, with € 22 million allocated in 2020. 24.5 million euros in 2021. says Rasa Savičiūtė, chief specialist of the Division of Expertise and Control of Services of the State Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health. According to her, it is also important to know that Depending of the patient’s age and the evaluation of their health, medical history and risk factors, will prescribe the necessary tests according to their competence and, if necessary, will prescribe a referral to a specialist doctor.
A survey of the Lithuanian population conducted by VLK in July last year showed that people are better aware of the cervical (66% of respondents) and breast (65%) cancer prevention programs. After 61 percent. 58% of those surveyed said they had heard of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. – colon cancer prevention program.
26 percent Of the women surveyed, 14 percent reported participating in a cervical cancer prevention program. – breast cancer. Also 16 percent. of those surveyed indicated the participation of cardiovascular, 11 percent. – prostate cancer and 10% – colon cancer prevention program.
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