Skip to main content
24-01-2023

Only one in five women get tested: health insurance funds encourage women not to wait

Iliustracija

As the European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week comes around at the end of January, the health insurance fund specialists encourage women to remember the importance of cervical cancer prevention. Regular preventive screening is essential to detect pre-cancerous lesions at an early stage and to protect women from spreading cervical cancer.

Doctors note that early-stage cervical cancer usually does not cause any symptoms, which is why, like in many developed countries, women in Lithuania are regularly screened for the disease free of charge. If cell changes are detected early, then treatment can be started without waiting for progression to cancer. If the disease is prevented in time, a woman's health and ability to work are preserved.  

“We are pleased to see that the number of women taking part in the cervical cancer prevention programme is steadily rising and has already surpassed pre-pandemic numbers. Preliminary data from the health insurance funds show that 135 000 women participated in this prevention programme last year. This is 9 000 more women than in 2021 and 12 000 more than before the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Jurgita Grigarienė, Chief Specialist of Services Management Division of the National Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health.  

The health insurance funds specialist notes that there is still room for growth. Last year, 19% of women in the target age group had their health checked under the cervical cancer prevention programme. This means that only one in five of all women of the age group eligible for screening took part in the programme last year. This is just 1.5% more women than the previous year. Thus, participation in this prevention programme is not yet sufficiently active, especially given that the incidence of cervical cancer in Lithuania exceeds 3 000 per year and is one of the most common causes of death among women worldwide.

As part of the cervical cancer prevention programme, all women aged between 25 and 59 years (inclusive) can go to their family doctor and get free screening. A year ago, this prevention programme was expanded with new services paid for by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF): human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cytology smear tests in liquid medium.
HPV infection is the biggest risk factor for cervical cancer. To find out if a woman is infected with this virus, a liquid HPV test can be performed. Women aged between 35 and 59 years (inclusive) should be tested every 5 years. If the HPV result is positive, a cervical cytology liquid smear test is performed to detect pre-cancerous conditions of the cervix. If the result is suggestive of a pathology, the woman is referred to an obstetrician for a consultation to clarify the diagnosis and, if necessary, treatment.

For women aged 25 to 34 (inclusive), a cytology smear test is performed every three years to detect pre-cancerous lesions. Once the results are available and abnormalities have been detected, a colposcopy may be performed, followed by a biopsy to objectively confirm, or refute the diagnosis.

Women who want to be screened as part of the cervical screening programme just need to contact their family doctor. Patients who do not fall into the age group defined by the programme but are concerned about their health should also contact their family doctor without delay. After assessing the state of your health, the doctor will carry out the necessary tests to determine the cause of the ailment and initiate treatment as well as a referral to a specialist if necessary.

Last year, the Cervical Cancer Prevention Programme required EUR 6 million in CHIF funding. This year, the amount will reach EUR 6.5 million.

Find out more about free disease prevention programmes in Lithuania – here.

(Freepik photo)

The NHIF invites you:

Your questions are welcome by email[email protected]or phone: local (8 5) 232 2222, international +370 5 232 2222

Last updated: 22-02-2023

Related news:

Health budget in 2025: what benefits did we receive?

The right to be informed: what is important to know about reimbursable healthcare

Tens of millions of euros for residents’ health: for whom and how are medication co-payments covered?

Study reveals: a family doctor’s advice determines the decision to get checked

Unexpected ailments during the holidays: where to turn and what to know