Poland boosts cancer screening with digital reminders
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Poland is strengthening its efforts to improve cancer screening rates, particularly among women, by leveraging digital tools and revisiting older strategies.
The Ministry of Health has begun sending mammography screening invitations via text message and the Moje IKP app, with plans to expand this to other preventative health programs, including lung cancer screening for at-risk groups. Currently, less than 33 percent of women participate in mammography programs, falling short of the country’s 70 percent goal.
Professor Beata Jagielska, director of the National Oncology Institute in Warsaw, explained that screening isn’t just about detecting cancer, but identifying pre-cancerous conditions or disease at an early stage, significantly improving survival rates and reducing treatment costs. While advanced cancer treatments are available, early surgical intervention offers the best chance of a full recovery. To increase participation, officials are considering a return to personalized, mailed invitations, a method that proved effective before data privacy regulations changed.
The National Health Fund is also developing quality indicators for primary care physicians, tying financial incentives to patient participation in screening programs. Experts emphasize the need for consistent reminders and improved data accuracy, as well as better access to screening in rural areas and assistance from healthcare professionals in scheduling appointments. The country currently has 21 million users of the Internet Patient Account and nearly 6 million users of the MojeIKP app.
