Tuesday, 16 June 2015 - 10:40
Cervical cancer mortality rate cut in half on prevention measures
Preventative measures such as screening has reduced the mortality rate for cervical cancer by 50 percent in the past 25 years. The mortality rate for breast cancer has been reduced by 30 percent.
This is according to a study done by Panteia that Minister Edit Schippers of Public Health, Welfare and Sports presented to the Tweede Kamer, lower house of parliament, on Tuesday.
Preventative measures such as the National Vaccination Program, screening for breast and colon cancer, the heel prick test in infants, Youth Healthcare and the National Influenza Prevention Program means that serious diseases are detected quickly and patients can be treated in a timely fashion. The heel prick annually detects an average of about 180 serious rare diseases in newborns. Timely treatment helps avoid irreparable health damage. Prevention also forms part of the Basic Health Insurance package.
The study showed that the Netherlands has an above average score on an international level when it comes to the components disease prevention. These components are preventing disease, protecting and promoting health, identifying disease at the earliest possible stage and the prevention of injuries. Many Dutch people participate in the screening and vaccination programs.
According to the report, that the Ministry of Health and Economic Affairs generally work well together when it comes to threatening infectious diseases or diseases that are resistant to antibiotics. The report also concluded that the quality of the composition Youth Healthcare basic packages is good.