Prevention is also to be present at work and on the road. New government initiative

Preventive health care is to become a joint task of the entire state, not just the health ministry. This is the goal behind the agreement signed on May 26 by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of State Assets and the Ministry of Infrastructure. The document envisages cooperation in the promotion of prevention, health education and dissemination of knowledge about available testing programs. The agreement was made on the initiative of Health Minister Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda and is part of the celebration of the Year of Health Prevention 2026 - The year 2026 has been declared the Year of Prevention by the Parliament. On this occasion, we want to strengthen communication. Hence the joint initiative with the Ministry of National Assets and the Ministry of Infrastructure. The health of Poles is becoming a matter not only for the Health Ministry, but for all of us," says Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda, Minister of Health.

The Health Minister also noted the symbolism of signing the agreement on Mother's Day.

- Today is Mother's Day and we can give them the most beautiful gift - give them time, attention, care. We can talk about prevention, about research, about what lies ahead. We can also help them register for tests through My IKP or IKP," she stressed.

The new initiative involves leveraging the potential of public institutions, state-owned companies and public infrastructure to promote preventive research and health education. The ministries announce joint information campaigns, mutually reinforcing communication and encouraging public entities to engage in health promotion activities.

As the authors of the agreement emphasize, this is the first attempt to move away from an exclusively departmental approach to public health and build a coordinated state collaboration around prevention.

Reasons for such measures include persistently low screening enrollment rates. In 2025, the breast cancer prevention program covered 33.53 percent of eligible women, and in the first quarter of 2026. - 32.39 percent. Even lower rates apply to cervical cancer prevention - 12.5 percent and 13.2 percent, respectively. The colorectal cancer screening program reached 15.84 percent in 2025 and 15.9 percent in the first quarter of this year.

At the same time, the Health Ministry stresses that test availability remains high. More than 75,000 slots are available for the next 90 days for HPV HR testing and more than 260,000 slots for mammography.

Women between the ages of 45 and 74 can get a free mammogram once every two years. On the other hand, women between the ages of 25 and 64 can benefit from cervical cancer prevention tests based on cytology or the HPV HR test. A screening colonoscopy program is available for those between the ages of 50 and 65, and from the age of 40 if there is a loaded family history.

The Health Ministry is also highlighting the results of the "My Health" program. Within a year of its launch, patients completed 3,595,000 questionnaires, and by the end of January, 1,646,000 complete health balances had been settled. As reported, 72 percent of those who completed the questionnaire proceeded to the next stage, which included laboratory tests and a follow-up visit.

Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Monika Wielichowska stresses that prevention should be one of the foundations of the health care system. - Prevention is not an add-on to the health care system, but one of its most important pillars. Even the best medicine cannot replace education, awareness and regular examinations. That's why it's so important to talk about prevention consistently, clearly and very loudly, combining opportunities to reach every Polish woman and man at work at school or even while traveling. Today's agreement is an important signal that public health is not just the responsibility of the Ministry of Health alone, but is the responsibility of the entire state. Shared responsibility and prevention really do save lives," she pointed out.

Minister of State Assets Wojciech Balczun noted the role of state-owned companies in educational activities. - Companies and institutions operating in the area of state assets have real potential for social impact. We want to use it responsibly also to support prevention and build health awareness. This is an important example of state involvement where it can effectively combine social responsibility with action for the common good," he said.

In turn, Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak pointed out that the public transportation space can be a place to effectively reach citizens with health messages. - Infrastructure and transportation is not only a system of connections and services, but also a space for daily contact with millions of citizens. Therefore, we want to incorporate this potential into health promotion and prevention activities. The closer a person is to good information and a simple invitation to an examination, the greater the chance that prevention will become a real part of everyday decisions," argues Min. Klimczak.

The authors of the agreement announce that this is just the beginning of building a broader model of state cooperation for public health.

Source: MZ