They want to “double down” on cancer.
Faced with insufficient participation in screenings, health insurance and the National Cancer Institute (Inca) want to remove the existing obstacles.
“Participation in screening remains insufficient.
For breast cancer, we are certainly at 47%, but the trend is downward.
For colorectal cancer, we are collectively failing with a participation of 34%, very low compared to the objectives of 60-70%.
For cervical cancer, we are at 60%, but the objective is 80%,” said the director general of Inca, Thierry Breton, this Friday.
As the overall burden of cancer increases, he launches “a call for the mobilization of French people, because these screenings allow for much greater cures and with fewer after-effects when cancer is detected early”.
To remove various “brakes”, “we are working hard”, in particular “we are trying to simplify daily life to make screening programs more accessible”.
The “I’m doing my screening” website
For example, for colorectal cancer, screening for which is based on a test to detect occult blood in the stool, it has been possible since 2022 to order the kit on the Internet or in pharmacies.
For cervical cancer, the examination can be done by midwives or general practitioners, in addition to gynecologists.
A “I’m doing my screening” website has also been set up, allowing you to order colorectal kits or make an appointment.
For invitations and reminders for screenings, health insurance is now taking over management, previously carried out by the regional cancer screening centers, but considered unsatisfactory.
By postal mail and emails, the objective is to mobilize more eligible French people, notably with a “double reminder”, explains Catherine Grenier, director of policyholders at Cnam (National Health Insurance Fund).
To this will be added “a system
to reach out
to the most fragile and furthest from the healthcare system, who health insurance advisors will call”.