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Women in Spain will soon be able to access breast cancer screening at an earlier age, after the Ministry of Health approved a nationwide expansion of the national screening programme. The change will bring women aged 45 to 74 into the public mammogram system, widening the previous target group of 50 to 69 year olds.

 

The decision was taken through the Public Health Commission, which coordinates preventive health policies across Spain’s autonomous communities. Under the new framework, routine mammograms will still be offered every two years within the National Health System, with regional authorities responsible for rolling out the changes in their own time and under local conditions.

 

The Ministry says the expansion is based on updated scientific evidence, including advice from the Network of Health Technology Assessment Agencies (RedETS) and the Council of the European Union. Officials point out that around 10% of breast cancers in Spain are diagnosed in women under 50, and that screening in the 45 to 49 age group can help reduce mortality and detect tumours at an earlier stage.

 

In the Region of Murcia, the shift has already begun. The López Miras Government started expanding the age range three years ago, making Murcia the first autonomous community to announce breast cancer screening for women from 45 to 74. The region is now in the third phase, with women aged 46 to 72 already included, and the full 45 to 74 range to be completed progressively over the coming years.

 

Implementation across Spain will be gradual, to allow regions to adapt their invitation systems and manage resources. The Ministry says regions will have up to six years to reach close to 100% coverage in the new age groups, with the possibility of initially using a three year screening interval before fully settling back into the standard two year cycle.

 

The reform is expected to help level up access across the country, where previous assessments had shown differences in participation depending on region. The estimated budgetary impact for the National Health System is about 534 million euros, although the Ministry notes that the real cost may be lower because several communities have already begun extending their own programmes.