JAKARTA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's Ministry of Health on Saturday said it has expanded its National Free Health Checkup Program to include colorectal cancer screening for high-risk individuals aged 45 and older.
"Our multi-layered approach begins with the Asia Pacific colorectal screening questionnaire, followed by a digital rectal exam and a fecal occult blood test for high-risk individuals," Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono was quoted by local media as saying.
He said colorectal cancer is a national health challenge, as most patients currently seek treatment after the disease has reached an advanced stage.
In Indonesia, colorectal cancer ranks fourth in incidence and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths, claiming over 19,000 lives annually. ■