The Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation (HKBCF) welcomes “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address”

The HKBCF welcomes the Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address released yesterday and supports the Government's plan to advance primary healthcare development in the report. This includes the formulation of risk-based screening programmes for prevalent cancers on a gradual basis, such as breast cancer screening.

Since 1994, breast cancer has been the leading cancer among women in Hong Kong. The number of new breast cancer cases has been rising steadily over the past 20 years, with over 5,500 new cases reported in 2021 — an average of 15 women diagnosed with breast cancer every day. The HKBCF believes that implementing universal breast screening in Hong Kong can effectively reduce the stages at which breast cancer is diagnosed.

At least 30 countries and regions have implemented universal breast cancer screening programmes, including Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. The HKBCF has been advocating for the Government to roll out a threephase plan for universal breast cancer screening, starting with high-risk women, followed by women in low-income areas, and finally, based on the experiences from these two phases, implement universal screening for all.

Early detection saves lives.