National Health Fund deploys mobile mammography units in Poland

The National Health Fund (NFZ) is conducting a breast cancer screening campaign in Poland, utilizing mobile mammography units (mammobuses) to increase access to preventative care. In the Nowy Sącz region, scheduled visits for October include Chełmiec, Łosina Dolna, Rytar, Stary Sącz, Łabowa, Muszyna, and Nowy Sącz.

Women aged 45 to 74 are eligible for free mammography once every two years without a referral. If abnormalities are detected, patients are referred for further diagnostics, such as ultrasound or biopsy. Registration can be completed via telephone or through the central e-registration system in the Patient's Internet Account.

Data from the Public Health Foundation indicates that while Poland has one of the lowest incidence rates of breast cancer in the EU, it has one of the highest mortality rates, often due to late diagnosis. As of September 1, less than 33 percent of eligible Polish women have utilized the free screening program. Projections suggest that without improved screening rates, annual cancer cases could rise to 26,700 and deaths to 11,000 by 2040.