Half of 54-Year-Olds Have Not Completed Free Bowel Cancer Screening

Health officials have reported that only a little over half of 54‑year‑olds in the country completed the free at‑home test kits that were distributed last month. According to the Ministry of Health, 53 % of the targeted cohort—roughly 1.2 million people—submitted their results, leaving 47 % who did not participate or failed to return a completed kit.

The kits, distributed through pharmacies and community centers, were intended to boost early detection of a newly emerging respiratory virus that has seen a surge in cases among middle‑aged adults. Officials say the low completion rate may hinder efforts to identify asymptomatic carriers and could delay contact‑tracing initiatives. They are urging residents who have not yet tested to do so promptly and are exploring additional outreach channels, including targeted messaging and mobile testing vans, to improve uptake.

In response, the health ministry has announced a follow‑up campaign that will provide reminders via SMS and local media, and will expand the free‑test program to include other age groups. The goal is to increase overall participation to at least 70 % across all demographics, a threshold deemed necessary to achieve community‑wide control of the virus.