This is important news for people aged 40 and over – the free preventive program “Profilaktyka 40+” has been extended and there is additional time to get checked out. It is worth getting checked – timely treatment may even save your life.
It's a bit of a gift for all people over 40. Those latecomers and those who have not yet used the program. It is worth taking advantage of the free tests program for people over forty, extended until the end of April. This is a program that can save lives.
– Thanks to the 40 plus program, we diagnosed several cancers, including colon cancer, in my small clinic – says Joanna Zabielska-Cieciuch, a family medicine specialist at the “Family Clinic” in Białystok.
This is because the package includes a test for the presence of occult blood in the stool. In addition – including morphology and liver tests. Men can also check their PSA level – very important in detecting prostate cancer.
“Prevention 40+” program
How to sign up for these tests? – The easiest way is to stay at home, open the computer, log in to the Patient's Online Account – says Dr. Agata Sławin, family medicine specialist, family doctor.
At IKP, you need to complete a survey and select the facility where you want to have the tests done. Simple instructions are available online. In case of problems, clinics are also available to help. However, the “Profilaktyka 40+” program, which has been operating since July 2021, was not popular.
– More than 20 million Poles over 40 years of age could be tested under this program. So far, four million Poles have undergone such tests throughout Poland, says Anna Leder from the Łódź Provincial Branch of the National Health Fund.
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The new program will cover more people
Maybe it will be better to promote a new program that will replace “Profilaktyka 40+”. – I would like this new “My Health” program to come into force in May – says Izabela Leszczyna, Minister of Health from the Civic Coalition.
According to Minister Leszczyna, the patient cannot be left alone with the results. She would like him to analyze them with a doctor or nurse. There are going to be more changes.
– The “Moje Zdrowie” program will be dedicated to everyone, there is no age limit. Women in their 30s also get sick, points out Izabela Leszczyna.
Change in occupational medicine research
Another change is also expected to appear in May. During the examination, occupational medicine doctors will be obliged to ask about mammography, cytology or PSA, or indicate the path where such tests should be performed. However, there will be no obligation to perform these tests.
– Enforcing this through occupational medicine was a significant increase in the chances of a higher percentage of people undergoing screening tests – comments Prof. Piotr Wysocki, head of the clinical oncology department at the University Hospital in Krakow.
Because not enough people do them all the time.