News comes as Croatian prostate cancer patients’ society celebrates anniversary

The society for prostate cancer patients in Croatia has celebrated its tenth anniversary with the announcement that, following a two-year pilot programme, a national programme for prostate cancer early detection will be launched this year.

At a ceremony in Zagreb to mark a decade's work by the Croatian Society of Prostate Cancer Patients (HDBRP), the State Secretary of Health Marija Bubaš and the Director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health Krunoslav Capak made the announcement.

“In the two-year pilot project for prostate cancer, we achieved the goals and defined the weak points, and we know what needs to be prepared for a successful national programme – from administration, through diagnostics and the division of roles in each step of screening,” said Krunoslav Capak.

The pilot programme was established with the university hospital KBC Zagreb and teaching hospital KBC Sestre milosrdnice, with Zagreb city health centres and family medicine physicians. “This is a synergy of all those involved,” said Marija Bubaš. “Associations like the HDBRP are very important here, as they act as direct contact with the patient and as a channel of communication towards patients and their families.”

HDBRP President, Velimir Korak (pictured speaking at the anniversary event), welcomed the news.

“Over the past ten years, the Croatian Society of Prostate Cancer Patients has developed into a strong voice for patients and a driver of change in the oncology care system,” he said. “Year after year, we conduct a series of public health campaigns and educational roundtables, in cooperation with doctors and other stakeholders in the health system, in order to raise awareness of the timely detection of the disease and encourage men to undergo preventive examinations.”

“We are very pleased to welcome the launch of the national screening programme next year because early detection enables more effective treatment and significantly improves the quality of life."

Around 2,800 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in Croatia every year, with two men losing their lives to the disease every day.