Population-level Cancer Screening and Cancer Care in Bhutan, 2020-2023: a Review

Overview

Journal Lancet Reg Health Southeast Asia

Date 2024 Mar 6

PMID 38444883

Authors

Thinley Dorji

Sangay Wangmo

Sonam Dargay

Namkha Dorji

Yeshey Dorjey

Birendra Pradhan

Dechen Pema

Choney Dema

Jamyang Choden

Tandin Dorji

Mimi Lhamu Mynak

Pempa

Kinga Jamphel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Screening of cancers is an important intervention in reducing the incidence and mortality related to cancers. Bhutan is one small country that is witnessing an increasing incidence and mortality related to cancers. The government implemented a time-bound population-level screening for gastric, cervical and breast cancers from 2020 to 2023 with an overall coverage of 91.2% of the eligible population. Among 370,225 individuals screened for , 32.4% tested positive; among 53,182 who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy, 255 (0.07%) had gastric cancer. Among 10,749 tested for HPV DNA, 9.3% were positive; among 9887 evaluated with colposcopy and biopsy, 154 (0.13%) had cervical cancer. For breast cancer screening, 72,283 underwent clinical breast examination, 845 mammography and cancer was detected in 73 (0.10%) individuals. In this article, we review how Bhutan implemented a population-level cancer screening programme with on boarding of multiple stakeholders and the participation of people across all districts.

Citing Articles

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PMID: 39237127 PMC: 11671906. DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-332705.

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