Klekovski: Breast cancer screening program to be reviewed, around 1,000 new cases a year

Around 1,000 new cases of breast cancer are recorded in the country each year, while about 7,000 patients are currently receiving treatment or have completed it, Health Minister Sasho Klekovski said.

He made the statement at the “Pink Morning Picnic,” organized by HEMA-ONKO in the park near “Guaca.” President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova also took part in the event, along with many women who heard messages about the importance of prevention, early diagnosis and open communication about breast cancer.

Klekovski said raising public awareness of the disease remains a priority, as timely detection is crucial to successful treatment. He said one significant problem is the current breast cancer screening program, which was deemed unsuccessful in a report by the State Audit Office.

“The concept needs to be completely reconsidered, and I hope that very soon, together with HEMA-ONKO, we will present a new approach to the screening program,” the minister said.

On treatment, the minister announced that two breast cancer drugs have been added to the positive list. This allows patients receiving chronic therapy to collect their medication from pharmacies without having to go to the Oncology Clinic. He added that the supply of medicines is currently stable, while the Ministry of Health is considering further measures to prevent interruptions in the distribution of treatment.

Klekovski also recalled that additional funding has been provided since last year for the Clinic for Thoracic Surgery and the Clinic for Plastic Surgery. The support is intended to ensure that reconstructive procedures are performed immediately after surgical treatment is completed.

“For us, this is not simply a cosmetic issue; it is directly linked to the physical and mental health and quality of life of women who have faced this disease,” Klekovski said.

The minister said that greater attention would be paid in the coming period to the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, which remains one of the most common malignant diseases among women.