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07-04-2022

President Adamkus and health professionals call for health checks

Iliustracija

Cardiovascular diseases and cancer are the leading killers not only in Lithuania but also worldwide. On 7 April, World Health Day, President Valdas Adamkus, together with the National Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health (NHIF), urges the population to fight these diseases and to make greater use of the opportunity to have a health check-up under the preventive programmes paid for by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF).

„The burden of cancer and cardiovascular diseases is growing worldwide. These diseases put enormous physical, emotional and financial strain not only on patients themselves, but also on their families, communities and national health systems. Many poor countries are not equipped to manage this burden, and many patients with cancer and circulatory diseases around the world do not have access to timely and quality diagnosis and treatment. In countries with strong health systems, survival rates for many cancers are improving due to the availability of early detection and quality treatment. We can only be glad that we live in a developed country with a strong health system. I therefore urge the people of Lithuania to take advantage of this opportunity and to benefit from the state support for free health check-ups under disease prevention programmes. Just one visit can save your life and the lives of your loved ones,“ says former President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus.

President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus (Personal archive photo)

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these diseases claim nearly 18 million lives every year. As many as 85% of these deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes. More than a third of these deaths occur prematurely - in people under 70 years of age. Lithuania is no exception. According to estimates by the Institute of Hygiene (HI), the number of people who suffer and die from diseases of the circulatory system is increasing every year. In 2020, 873,000 people suffered from these diseases. Last year, according to preliminary data, nearly 909,000 people died from circulatory system diseases.

According to the WHO, oncological diseases are the second most common cause of death in the world, killing around 10 million people every year. Lithuania's figures are also unrelenting. HI statistics show that by 2020, more than 8 000 patients died from malignant tumours. According to preliminary HI data, almost 107 000 people in Lithuania had cancer last year. This means that compared to 2020, the number of cancer patients per year has increased by more than 3,000.

Medical and health experts agree that timely diagnosis is one of the most important factors in controlling the rising rates of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancer. In other words, the sooner a doctor diagnoses a disease, the better the patient's chances of recovery. WHO estimates that between 30% and 50% of cancer deaths could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies. Moreover, prevention is considered worldwide to be the most cost-effective long-term cancer control strategy.

Five disease prevention programmes are funded by the CHIF: cervical, breast, colon, prostate  and cardiovascular diseases. People with compulsory health insurance and those in the target age group need only contact their family doctor to get a health check-up under these programmes.

„While we can be pleased that last year's participation in disease prevention programmes has already caught up with pre-pandemic levels, we have to admit that it is still not sufficient. Only a minority of patients who are able to participate in these programmes have their health checked. This is why we are paying special attention to this this year“, says Gintaras Kacevičius, Director of the NHIF.

According to the data of the NHIF, about 44% of people participated in the cardiovascular disease prevention programme last year. A similar proportion of the target population periodically participates in cancer prevention programmes. For example, 42% of the population takes advantage of the cervical cancer early diagnosis programme, 43% of the population is screened under the breast cancer programme and about 44% of the population participates in the colorectal cancer programme.

„Once again, cardiovascular diseases and many types of cancer can be cured if detected early and treated effectively, so prevention is a really meaningful way to take care of your health,“ urges the head of the NHIF.

Director of the NHIF Gintaras Kacevičius (NHIF photo)

Health insurance funds specialists point out that patients who do not fall into the age group defined in the programme, but who are experiencing symptoms and are worried about their health, should contact their family doctor without delay. After assessing the state of your health, he/she will carry out the necessary tests to determine the cause of the ailment and to start treatment, and if necessary, make a referral for a consultation with a specialist doctor.

Each year, the number of funds allocated by the sickness funds to cancer prevention programmes by the CHIF increases. This year, €30.8 million has been earmarked for this purpose, €6 million more than last year.

For more information on disease prevention programmes, see here.

(Piktochart photo)

The NHIF invites you:

Your questions are welcome by email [email protected] or phone: local (8 5) 232 2222, international +370 5 232 222

Last updated: 12-04-2022

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