Faroe Islanders to undergo colorectal cancer screening program following Ólavsøku announcement by Prime Minister Aksel V. Johannesen

Faroe Islanders are set to undergo colorectal cancer screening, as announced by the Prime Minister during the Ólavsøku festival.

The National Hospital is expected to be ready to coordinate the screening program this autumn, according to Prime Minister Aksel V. Johannesen in his address at the opening of the parliamentary session.

However, officials at the National Hospital have not committed to a specific timeline. “It’s difficult to say when we will be ready to start,” stated Gunnvá Guttesen, the deputy director with a nursing background.

A working group is preparing for the screening process in the near future. The key advantage of screening for colorectal cancer is that it allows for earlier detection of the disease, leading to better treatment options.

In the cancer strategy document from 2022, there were recommendations for additional initiatives to be implemented. Among these were two proposals sent to the Ministry of Health for the establishment of a diagnostic and referral unit, as well as a screening unit. The National Hospital deems these units necessary before colorectal screening can commence. Funding has already been allocated for both units.