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Review
. 2024 Jan 18;24(1):102.
doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-10327-8.

Cancer screening programs in South-east Asia and Western Pacific

Hwee-Lin Wee  1 , Karen Canfell  2 , Han-Mo Chiu  3 , Kui Son Choi  4 , Brian Cox  5 , Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy  6 , Kate T Simms  2 , Chisato Hamashima  7   8 , Qianyu Shen  1 , Brandon Chua  1 , Niyomsri Siwaporn  9   10 , Esther Toes-Zoutendijk  11   12
Affiliations
Review

Cancer screening programs in South-east Asia and Western Pacific

Hwee-Lin Wee et al. BMC Health Serv Res. .

Abstract

Background: The burden of cancer can be altered by screening. The field of cancer screening is constantly evolving; from the initiation of program for new cancer types as well as exploring innovative screening strategies (e.g. new screening tests). The aim of this study was to perform a landscape analysis of existing cancer screening programs in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific.

Methods: We conducted an overview of cancer screening in the region with the goal of summarizing current designs of cancer screening programs. First, a selective narrative literature review was used as an exploration to identify countries with organized screening programs. Second, representatives of each country with an organized program were approached and asked to provide relevant information on the organizations of their national or regional cancer screening program.

Results: There was wide variation in the screening strategies offered in the considered region with only eight programs identified as having an organized design. The majority of these programs did not meet all the essential criteria for being organized screening. The greatest variation was observed in the starting and stopping ages.

Conclusions: Essential criteria of organized screening are missed. Improving organization is crucial to ensure that the beneficial effects of screening are achieved in the long-term. It is strongly recommended to consider a regional cancer screening network.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Cancer screening; Cervical cancer; Colorectal cancer; Gastric cancer; Lung cancer; Organized screening; South-East Asia; Western pacific.

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Conflict of interest statement

WHL is the supervisor of a PhD candidate who is a staff of BD, a global medical technology company with business interest in extended genotyping for cervical cancer. The PhD student receives a research scholarship from the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Singapore. WHL does not receive any direct funding from BD for her role as a PhD supervisor. KC receives salary support from the National Health and Medical Research Council Australia (APP1194679). KC is co-PI of an investigator-initiated trial of cervical screening, “Compass”, run by the Australian Centre for Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC), which is a government-funded not-for-profit charity. Compass receives infrastructure support from the Australian government and the ACPCC has received equipment and a funding contribution from Roche Molecular Diagnostics, USA. KC is also co-PI on a major implementation program Elimination of Cervical Cancer in the Western Pacific which has received support from the Minderoo Foundation and the Frazer Family Foundation and equipment donations from Cepheid Inc. H-M C received a speaker honorarium from Boston Scientific corporation, Olympus Medical, Fujifilm Medical System. Research funding for Taiwan Colorectal Cancer Screening Program from Health Promotion Administration of Taiwanese Government. Research grant from Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwanese Government. SN received a research grant on a project related to cardiovascular drugs and support for attending meetings from Pfizer. NBP received educational grants from Novartis, Pfizer, AIA, Zuellig Pharma, and the Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia; speaker’s fees for lectures from Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and Zuellig Pharma; support for attending meetings or travel from Roche and the Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia; research material support from Roche Diagnostics; and participated in Pfizer Asia Pacific, Malaysia (advisory board, 2017–18), and Together Against Cancer (secretary, 2018, and committee member, 2019). All others declare to have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overview of age range in organized breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening programs
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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