Doha: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 importance of early detection throughout October 2026.
According to Qatar News Agency, operating under the slogan "Your Strength Begins with Early Detection," the 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign featured 13 awareness activities across workplaces, schools, and community centers. These initiatives were supported by an extensive digital health campaign detailing risk factors, risk-reduction strategies, and guidance on accessing routine screening services.
As part of the campaign, the National Cancer Program hosted a central awareness event at the MoPH headquarters. The event included an interactive educational pavilion where organizers distributed resource materials, addressed public inquiries regarding the disease and its risk factors, and provided direct information on available clinical paths and early detection services in Qatar.
The latest data from the National Cancer Registry indicates that Qatar recorded 567 cases of breast cancer in 2023. Of these cases, 562 were found in women and five in men. The registry also showed that 162 cases were registered among Qatari citizens and 405 among non-Qatari residents.
Data from the Qatar Cancer Information Center's Early Detection Registry reveals that 71,829 mammograms were performed between 2016 and December 2025, with 49,276 women undergoing at least one screening. From January to September 2026, 7,024 women underwent mammograms as part of the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program.
The State of Qatar continues to strengthen its regional and international collaborations to enhance the quality of early cancer detection programs. Key initiatives include partnering with the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control to implement the Gulf Training Program and participating in the Gulf Working Group on Improving the Quality of Early Detection.
In these forums, Qatar shared its successful model for monitoring and evaluation systems. Additionally, Qatar collaborates with the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Qatar also contributed to the WHO-led Global Breast Cancer Initiative discussions, reviewing global survival rate estimates and providing national data. A study published in Nature Medicine highlighted Qatar's ranking among the highest in the Eastern Mediterranean Region for women's five-year net survival rates for breast cancer.
Domestically, the MoPH builds strategic alliances with key health sector partners to develop prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment services. This approach optimizes the quality of care for cancer patients, improving clinical outcomes and quality of life.
The Ministry affirms that early breast cancer detection services are available free of charge year-round at several health centers. The Ministry urges women aged 45 to 69 who are asymptomatic and have not undergone screening within the last three years to book a free screening appointment, stressing the importance of early detection.
Eligible individuals can book appointments through various channels, including direct physician e-referrals, PHCC's Nar'aakom App, or online service channels. Bookings can also be made by calling the screening hotlines.