Turkey’s free screening programme finds 35,600 cancers early

Turkey’s national cancer-screening programme has detected cancer at an early stage in 35,600 people since July 2024, allowing their treatment processes to begin. Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu said more than 16.08 million people had received free screenings over that period, extending access to preventive checks on a nationwide scale.

The screenings also identified suspicious findings in 658,000 people, according to figures shared by the minister. The reports do not specify how those cases were subsequently assessed or provide a breakdown by cancer type. But the reported early-stage detections show how a large public programme can move people from routine screening into care before disease is more advanced.

To encourage eligible age groups to participate, the Health Ministry’s reminder initiative sent 99 million text messages in the year after its launch. Free screening is available across Turkey’s 81 provinces, and Memişoğlu urged more residents to take part, stressing that early diagnosis can save lives. The results are government-reported programme data rather than an independent evaluation, but they document a substantial route into earlier treatment for tens of thousands of people.