Secondary prevention of colorectal cancer in the system of public medical insurance in the Czech Republic

Overview

Due to its urgency the problem of colorectal carcinoma enforced the development of screening methods of early detection. Even though the methodical directions and regulations of the Czech Ministry of Health impose the obligation to pay attention to the oncological problems within the framework of period preventive examinations a simple screening method is always welcome. The communication informs about the development of medical legislation in this area and the evolution of records of secondary prevention of colorectal carcinoma. There have been stages of 1991–1997, 1997–2010 and 2010 until now. The implementation of colorectal carcinoma screening (CRCS) was preceded by a pilot project, organized and secured during 1997–1998 by General Medical Insurance Company. The communication further documents the results of the CRCS program based on the data of Olomouc Region with reference to the national data. The results indicate that the introduction, reports and reimbursement of the screening methods from the resources of public health insurance increased the detection rate and helped to decrease mortality for CRC. The results remind of the need to find a suitable form to increase individual responsibility for his or her health in those groups of diseases, where screening methods are available.

Key words:
screening for colorectal carcinoma – occult bleeding into stools – reporting the screening interventions by physicians – material-technical equipment of the workplace – General Medical Insurance Company – detection of early stages – incidence and mortality – program of the screening of colorectal carcinoma in the Czech Republic – population data in the Olomouc region – family physicians – gynecologist – screening colonoscopy – induced intervention of medical care – early detection of the disease