TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛福部) plans to include stomach cancer screenings in its public health initiatives next year, with its Health Promotion Administration (HPA, 國民健康署) announcing on Tuesday (Feb. 4) that the screenings will be funded with an annual budget of NT$2 billion to NT$3 billion, benefiting an estimated 600,000 people.
Cancer screenings can detect cancer early when symptoms are not apparent, increasing the chances of survival. The Ministry currently offers free screenings for five types of cancer, targeting high-risk groups. HPA Director-General Wu Chao-chun (吳昭軍) emphasized the challenge of achieving President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) goal to reduce the standardized cancer mortality rate by one-third by 2030, especially with an aging population.
The HPA evaluated the feasibility of using fecal antigen testing for Helicobacter pylori in individuals aged 50 to 74. Last year, a pilot program screened over 4.8 million people across nine counties, identifying more than 60,000 cases of cancer or precancerous conditions. This year, the program expanded to 17 counties to refine its operational model.
Wu stated that once stomach cancer screenings become publicly funded, they will be available to people aged 45 to 79, similar to colorectal cancer screenings. The government expects to screen a comparable number of people annually, necessitating substantial financial investment. Wu set a target to screen 7.5 million to 8 million people this year, aiming for 12 million screenings annually to detect cancer early and improve cure rates.