Spain extends breast cancer screening to women aged 45 to 74 nationwide
Spain's health ministry and regions approved on 23 October an order adding women aged 45-49 and 70-74 to the public breast screening programme. It still has to be published in the official state gazette, and regions will have up to six years to invite everyone.
Women aged 45 to 49 and 70 to 74 are set to join Spain’s public breast cancer screening programme across the country. The Interterritorial Council of the National Health System, which brings together the health ministry and the regions, approved on Friday 23 October the draft order adding them to the common list of services. Until now, screening covered women aged 50 to 69.
What changes for each woman
The test is still a mammogram every two years. For the new age groups, regions may start by inviting women every three years and move to every two once the programme is fully in place.
When the letters will arrive
Not straight away. The order still has to be published in the official state gazette (BOE). Once it takes effect, regions and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla will have three years to start changing their programmes and six to invite almost all women in the new age groups. Some have moved early: Extremadura will start inviting women from age 45 in January 2027, and Galicia has included it in its budget for that year, as we reported.
In the meantime, nothing changes in each woman’s invitation: anyone unsure when their turn comes can ask at their local health centre.
