Additional 1,200 men and women—whose information regarding permanent residence in Estonia was added to the population register during the first half of this year—are eligible to participate in the cancer screening program. These individuals did not previously have a registered address in Estonia, so it was not possible to generate a screening invitation for them at the beginning of the year. Now, an invitation awaits them on the health portal.
Participating in cancer screening is a simple and effective way to detect the disease at an early stage or prevent its onset. In 2026, over 225,000 people have been invited to free screening programs, of whom nearly 30% have already undergone screening.
“Participating in screening is an opportunity for everyone to do something very important for their health. Cancer detected early is more treatable, and it is often possible to prevent the disease from developing in the first place,” said Dolores Eamets, director of the Cancer Screening Registry.
Screening is free for all Estonian residents, including those without health insurance.
Who are invited for screening?
- Breast cancer screening: women aged 50–74 every two years; in 2026, women born in 1952, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, and 1976.
- Cervical cancer screening: women aged 30–65 every five years; in 2026, women born in 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, and 1996.
- Colon cancer screening: men and women aged 56–68 every two years; in 2026, this includes women and men born in 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, and 1970.
How to participate in screening?
To participate in cervical and breast cancer screening, book an appointment in health portal or call a suitable healthcare facility and let them know that you would like to register for screening. You can find the necessary contact information on the Estonian Health Insurance Fund’s website(Opens in new tab).
You can also collect the sample needed for cervical cancer screening at home by ordering a free home test kit at hpv.kliinikum.ee(Opens in new tab) or by asking for a free HPV home test at your nearest pharmacy.
You can also participate in breast cancer screening on a mobile mammography unit. The schedule and information about stops can be found at terviseportaal.ee/rinnavahk.
To participate in colon cancer screening, contact your family health center.
Additional information about screening programs can be found on the screening website at soeluuring.ee(Opens in new tab).
More detailed statistics on the target groups and individuals invited for cancer screening in 2026 have been published in the health statistics and health research database in tables VSR01, VSR11, and VSR21 (statistika.tai.ee(Opens in new tab)) and visualized on the health data page(Opens in new tab).