Since Croatia launched a national programme for breast cancer early detection and diagnosis in 2006, more than 150,000 women have undergone screening tests, which has been conducive to early diagnoses in about 6,000 cases.

On the occasion of Pink Ribbon Day, observed in October, the results of the national programme were presented by Health Minister Vili Beros at a news conference in Zagreb on Tuesday.

Women aged between 50 and 65 are encouraged to undergo screening tests that can help in early detection of this disease.

Under this programme, they are invited to have preventive check-ups, and the minister expressed support for early cancer detection programmes.

Beros said that in 2019, 752 women suffering from breast cancer had died in Croatia, whereas in previous years this disease claimed the lives of about a 1,000 women a year.

When it comes to the breast cancer incidence rate, Croatia is above the EU average, however, Croatia’s breast cancer mortality rate is below the EU average.