Screening

Who is eligible for each cancer screening programme, how many take part, what could raise uptake, and the letters a programme could send.

Updated 21 Oct 2026, 15:19

National colorectal cancer screening programme Running

Ages: 50–74
Who: Women and men
Test: Faecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit sent by post with the invitation; colonoscopy after a positive result

Where the rules come from

“The programme is open to all beneficiaries of the general healthcare system (GeSY) who are between the ages of 50 and 74.”National screening programme for the early detection of colo
“The test kits are free at the point of use to all people aged between 50 and 74”Press Bowel cancer screening kits sent to 74-year-olds

European Observatory HSPM (+ press). The programme invites GeSY beneficiaries; Census residents of the same ages are an upper bound for the eligible population.

Eligible population (Census 2021, derived)

Area	Sex	Total
Cyprus	Males	125,204 source
Cyprus	Females	134,908 source
Lefkosia	Males	46,255 source
Lefkosia	Females	51,748 source
Lemesos	Males	34,572 source
Lemesos	Females	37,256 source
Larnaka	Males	21,441 source
Larnaka	Females	22,519 source
Ammochostos	Males	7,723 source
Ammochostos	Females	7,819 source
Pafos	Males	15,213 source
Pafos	Females	15,566 source

Observatory computation (derived): sum of Census 2021 residents (CYSTAT-DB single years of age, table 1891129E) aged 50-74 by sex and district. Programme ages from: eurohealthobservatory.who.int; cyprus-mail.com. The programme invites GeSY beneficiaries; Census residents of the same ages are an upper bound for the eligible population.

Published uptake

Self-reported colorectal screening test in the past 2 years, 50-74 (EHIS)3.3% source (2019) · EU-27 33.3% source (2019)

Population breast cancer screening programme Running

Ages: 45–74
Who: Women
Test: Mammography, free of charge on invitation by the Ministry of Health

Where the rules come from

“the programme has been expanded, as recommended by European guidelines, to now cover women aged between 45 and 74, instead of just between 50 and 69”Press Breast cancer is health ministry's 'top priority'
“It is aimed at women aged 45 to 74, in line with the latest recommendations of the European Union.”Press Breast screening centres upgraded with new technology

primary not reachable; press report of Ministry statements. Rule from press reports of Ministry statements (primary not reachable: moh.gov.cy robots.txt).

Eligible population (Census 2021, derived)

Area	Sex	Total
Cyprus	Females	168,725 source
Lefkosia	Females	65,269 source
Lemesos	Females	46,635 source
Larnaka	Females	27,987 source
Ammochostos	Females	9,756 source
Pafos	Females	19,078 source

Observatory computation (derived): sum of Census 2021 residents (CYSTAT-DB single years of age, table 1891129E) aged 45-74 by sex and district. Programme ages from: cyprus-mail.com; cyprus-mail.com. Rule from press reports of Ministry statements (primary not reachable: moh.gov.cy robots.txt).

Published uptake

Programme data: women screened (Eurostat)29.16% source (2024)
Self-reported mammography in the past 2 years, women 50-69 (EHIS)65.8% source (2019) · EU-27 65.9% source (2019)

Cervical cancer screening programme (planned) Planned, rules not yet announced

Ages: –
Who: Women
Test: Rules not yet announced

Eligible population is not computed until the programme's ages are announced.

Published uptake

Self-reported cervical smear in the past 3 years, women 20-69 (EHIS)69.2% source (2019) · EU-27 70.8% source (2019)

Prostate cancer screening programme (planned) Planned, rules not yet announced

Ages: –
Who: Men
Test: Rules not yet announced

Eligible population is not computed until the programme's ages are announced.

Uptake model

Pick a programme and the changes to try. The model applies published effect sizes from trials abroad, which may not hold in Cyprus.

8,584

Screened today (3.3%)

today's uptake

8,584

Screened with the changes (3.3%)

today's uptake

Model output (derived), not a statistic. The effects are multiplied as if independent, and they come from trials in other countries.

Programme dashboard (for the Ministry)

People invited	waiting for programme data
People screened	waiting for programme data
Uptake (% of invited)	waiting for programme data
Positive results	waiting for programme data
Follow-up completed (e.g. colonoscopy)	waiting for programme data
Median days from positive result to follow-up	waiting for programme data

Letter templates

Words in braces, such as {name}, are filled in by the programme when it sends the letter.

Invitation letter

ΠΡΟΤΥΠΟ για τον φορέα του προγράμματος - δεν αποστέλλεται από το Παρατηρητήριο Υγείας Κύπρου.

Αγαπητέ/ή {name},
Σας προσκαλούμε στο δωρεάν {programme}. Απευθύνεται σε άτομα ηλικίας {age_range}. {test_instructions}
Χρειάζονται λίγα λεπτά και μπορεί να εντοπίσει τον καρκίνο νωρίς, όταν αντιμετωπίζεται πιο εύκολα.
Πληροφορίες: {phone} (Δευτέρα-Παρασκευή, {hours}).
{programme_owner}

TEMPLATE for the programme owner - not sent by the Cyprus Health Observatory.

Dear {name},
You are invited to the free {programme}. It is for people aged {age_range}. {test_instructions}
It takes a few minutes and can find cancer early, when it is easier to treat.
Questions: {phone} (Monday-Friday, {hours}).
{programme_owner}

ШАБЛОН для организатора программы - не рассылается Обсерваторией здравоохранения Кипра.

Уважаемый(ая) {name},
Приглашаем вас принять участие в бесплатной программе: {programme}. Она предназначена для людей в возрасте {age_range}. {test_instructions}
Это займёт несколько минут и помогает выявить рак на ранней стадии, когда его легче лечить.
Вопросы: {phone} (понедельник-пятница, {hours}).
{programme_owner}

Reminder letter

ΠΡΟΤΥΠΟ για τον φορέα του προγράμματος - δεν αποστέλλεται από το Παρατηρητήριο Υγείας Κύπρου.

Αγαπητέ/ή {name},
Σας γράψαμε στις {invitation_date} για το δωρεάν {programme}. Αν δεν έχετε συμμετάσχει ακόμη, δεν είναι αργά. {test_instructions}
Αν έχετε ήδη συμμετάσχει, σας ευχαριστούμε και παρακαλούμε αγνοήστε αυτή την επιστολή.
Πληροφορίες: {phone}.
{programme_owner}

TEMPLATE for the programme owner - not sent by the Cyprus Health Observatory.

Dear {name},
We wrote to you on {invitation_date} about the free {programme}. If you have not taken part yet, it is not too late. {test_instructions}
If you have already done so, thank you and please ignore this letter.
Questions: {phone}.
{programme_owner}

ШАБЛОН для организатора программы - не рассылается Обсерваторией здравоохранения Кипра.

Уважаемый(ая) {name},
Мы писали вам {invitation_date} о бесплатной программе: {programme}. Если вы ещё не приняли участие, это можно сделать сейчас. {test_instructions}
Если вы уже прошли обследование, благодарим вас - просто не обращайте внимания на это письмо.
Вопросы: {phone}.
{programme_owner}

Missed appointment letter

ΠΡΟΤΥΠΟ για τον φορέα του προγράμματος - δεν αποστέλλεται από το Παρατηρητήριο Υγείας Κύπρου.

Αγαπητέ/ή {name},
Είχατε ραντεβού στις {appointment_date} για το δωρεάν {programme} και δεν σας είδαμε. Μπορείτε να κλείσετε νέα ώρα στο {phone} ή στο {booking_link}.
{programme_owner}

TEMPLATE for the programme owner - not sent by the Cyprus Health Observatory.

Dear {name},
You had an appointment on {appointment_date} for the free {programme} and we missed you. You can book a new time at {phone} or {booking_link}.
{programme_owner}

ШАБЛОН для организатора программы - не рассылается Обсерваторией здравоохранения Кипра.

Уважаемый(ая) {name},
У вас была запись на {appointment_date} в рамках бесплатной программы: {programme}, но вы не пришли. Записаться на новое время можно по телефону {phone} или по ссылке {booking_link}.
{programme_owner}