Under the direction of the National Public Health Centre (NNK), the “Taking Screening Tests in Place” initiative provides multiple screening tests nationwide. With the help of the initiative screening buses take health promotion and preventive examinations to settlements where these programs have so far been less accessible to the population.
On the screening buses touring the country NNK primarily makes organized screenings available to the population living in settlements far away from screening centers. The aim of organized screening tests is to find patients who have developed medical conditions or asymptomatic diseases at an early stage by periodically re-examining asymptomatic individuals. In doing so, the program serves not only to improve the health of the population, but also to reduce health related inequalities.
On the well-equipped buses general medical assessment and various specialist examinations can be carried out. For example, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol measurement, cardiovascular examination (e.g. ECG) and gynecological examination are all available within the program.
On the buses
- cervical screening,
- oral cancer screening,
- cardiovascular risk screening is available.
In addition, individual counseling is provided in the following areas:
- melanoma risk reduction counseling;
- and dermoscopic dermatological examination;
- smoking cessation support;
- assessment of body composition;
- blood pressure measurement;
- counseling that supports reproductive health;
- counseling on responsible sexual behavior;
- responsible pregnancy;
- counseling to avoid drug use;
- other lifestyle counseling is available.
Screening itself is for preventive purposes: if the result of the examination raises the suspicion of a disease, confirmatory tests will be carried out. The examinations are carried out by healthcare professionals of health care providers, who can also arrange (if necessary) the additional examinations, follow-up and treatment of the screened persons, available within the health care system.
Screening programs can reduce the mortality rates of diseases, as diseases can be detected much earlier than without screening tests. Patients screened and diagnosed with the help of screening can often have significantly better chances of recovery or survival due to early detection.
The schedule of screening buses can be found on the NNK webpage.
