Stomach cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer are the three most common cancers in Bhutan. To lower incidences and for successful treatment of these cancers, the health ministry has been carrying out screenings for early detection across the country. So far, about 90 per cent of the targeted population have been screened for cancer according to the Health Flagship report. The report was launched yesterday at the International Cancer Symposium held in the capital.
Stomach cancer is the most common cancer in Bhutan and is the leading cause of cancer deaths in males.
370, 225 people have been screened for gastric cancer since 2020 from the target population of 410,546. 255 individuals had gastric cancer, while 64 were found to be in the pre-cancer stage. 119,854 people were infected with the H.pylori bacteria which is the leading cause of gastric cancer.
To improve the services and treatment of gastric cancer, the project has introduced stool antigen test services and H.pylori eradication drugs at all health facilities. The report also states that endoscopy services were expanded from only five hospitals to all health centres with enhanced surgical services and histopathology labs.
The report also reveals that 116,493 women were screened for cervical cancer from the target population of 128,285. 154 women were found to have cervical cancer. And 10,749 were identified as being HPV positive, which is a cervical cancer risk factor.
Meanwhile, the project introduced improvements in services, infrastructure and training for health workers. For instance, HPV DNA testing was introduced in three hospitals and gynaecology services were extended to 10 centres in the country.
For breast cancer, the fourth most diagnosed cancer in Bhutanese women, 72,283 females were screened from a target population of 78,004. 73 breast cancer patients and 932 individuals with a high risk of developing breast cancer were also recorded.
Although it is rare, this cancer can also be diagnosed in men.
As a part of the flagship programme, the project provided two mammography machines and clinical breast examinations for screening in all 20 districts for breast cancer.
Health Minister Dechen Wangmo says advocacy, screening, and testing have been streamlined in the primary health system for sustainability.
“I think we are very excited because seeing what the health flagship programme has achieved, we have already started institutionalising these kinds of interventions in our normal health system. Meaning that as of today we have a cancer control programme within the Department of Public Health under the Ministry of Health.”
The project was initiated with a budget of more than Nu 1bn by the Ministry of Health and implemented by local health sectors and health centres in all 20 districts.
Singye Dema & Devika Pradhan
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
