Ministry of Public Health intensifies efforts to promote breast cancer awareness and early detection
<p>Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), in collaboration with the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Sidra Medicine, and the Qatar Cancer Society (QCS), has intensified its nationwide initiatives to promote breast cancer awareness and emphasize the critical importance of early detection throughout October 2026.</p> <p>Operating under the slogan…
Doha, Qatar - The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has ramped up efforts to raise breast cancer awareness and stress the urgency of early detection throughout October 2026. In partnership with PHCC, HMC, Sidra Medicine, and the Qatar Cancer Society, the ministry has rolled out 13 awareness initiatives across various venues, all under the theme "Your Strength Begins with Early Detection."
The 2026 campaign featured a major event at the MoPH headquarters, where organizers set up an interactive educational pavilion to dispel misconceptions, answer questions about risk factors and treatments, and provide details on clinical pathways for early detection services.
According to recent statistics, 567 breast cancer cases were diagnosed in Qatar in 2023, with 562 cases identified in women and five cases in men. The National Cancer Registry reported 71,829 mammograms conducted between 2016 and December 2025, with 49,276 women undergoing at least one screening during that period. As of September 2026, 7,024 women had mammograms as part of the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program.
Recognizing the global nature of this issue, Qatar has strengthened ties with regional and international bodies, including the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the Gulf Working Group on Improving the Quality of Early Detection, and the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. The country also participated in the WHO-led Global Breast Cancer Initiative, sharing its monitoring and evaluation models and contributing vital national data.
The MoPH continues to offer free annual screenings for women aged 45 to 69 who have not had a recent screening. Eligible individuals can schedule appointments through their doctor, the Nar'aakom App, or online services, as well as by calling the screening hotlines. The ministry urges women to take advantage of this free screening opportunity, emphasizing that early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes and recovery prospects.
Written by urgent.news from The Peninsula Qatar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
