Hong Kong residents born between 1948 and 1974 can enrol in the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme from January 1, the Department of Health announced today.

The programme subsidises asymptomatic residents aged between 50 and 75 to undergo screening tests for colorectal cancer every two years in the private sector.

The years of birth for eligibility are updated at the beginning of each year.

Participants should book a consultation with an enrolled primary care doctor to receive a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) screening. If the FIT result is positive, the participant will be referred to an enrolled colonoscopy specialist to receive a colonoscopy examination subsidised by the Government.

Since its launch in 2016, around 420,000 eligible people have participated in the programme.

As of the end of November, about 16.2% of participants who had submitted FIT tube samples with analysable results had positive results.

Among FIT-positive participants who underwent a colonoscopy examination, about 60.8% had colorectal adenomas and around 5.4%, or 2,900 people had colorectal cancer.

A preliminary analysis of 1,900 cases diagnosed under the programme revealed that about 57% were earlier-stage cases, thus having a more favourable prognosis.

The department called on eligible citizens to join the programme from the age of 50, and to prevent colorectal cancer by leading a healthy lifestyle that involves exercising regularly, saying no to smoking and alcohol, and more.

Participants with negative FIT results are advised to undergo re-screening after two years, it added.

Eligible residents can join the programme by getting registered in the Electronic Health Record Sharing System. Call 3467 6300 for details.