DH encourages eligible persons born between 1950 and 1976 to take part in Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme
The Department of Health (DH) announced today (December 31) that Hong Kong residents born between 1950 and 1976 will be eligible to enrol in the Government-subsidised Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme (CRCSP) from January 1, 2026. The DH urges all eligible persons to participate in the CRCSP as early as possible and advocates the adoption of healthy lifestyles to lower the risk of colorectal cancer.
Using a public-private partnership model, the CRCSP subsidises asymptomatic Hong Kong residents aged between 50 and 75 to undergo screening tests every two years in the private sector. Participants in the CRCSP should first attend a medical consultation provided by an enrolled primary care doctor (PCD) and receive a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) screening arranged by the PCD. 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. If the FIT result is negative, the participant is advised to repeat the screening two years later.
As of the end of November 2025, over 66 000 new participants have enrolled in the CRCSP this year, bringing the total number of participants to more than 579 000. Among them, 15 per cent had positive FIT screening results, approximately 45 000 persons (7.9 per cent) were diagnosed to have colorectal adenomas, and about 3 800 persons (0.7 per cent) had colorectal cancer after colonoscopy examination. Analysis showed that more than 50 per cent of the colorectal cancer cases detected under the CRCSP were in the early stages, demonstrating the effectiveness of screening.
Currently, more than 1 200 PCDs have enrolled in the CRCSP, covering about 2 300 clinics to provide services, while 260 colonoscopy specialists have also joined the CRCSP to provide examination at about 790 clinics. The colonoscopy specialists can only charge participants a co-payment of no more than $1,000 for providing standard colonoscopy examination services, with over 70 per centof these service locations not charging any additional payment for colonoscopy and polyp removal.
"Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in Hong Kong. In 2023, there were 5 467 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases, accounting for 14.4 per cent of all new cancer cases. Colorectal cancer screenings can identify people at higher risk of colorectal cancer and asymptomatic patients, and enable them to receive early treatment, thus significantly improving prognosis. Also, removing colorectal adenoma during a colonoscopy can prevent it from developing into cancer," said the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui.
Dr Tsui called on eligible persons to join the CRCSP starting at age 50. If the screening result is normal, rescreening should be performed every two years until age 75. In addition, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help prevent colorectal cancer; this includes exercising regularly, eating two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily, maintaining a healthy body weight, and avoiding smoking and alcohol drinking. Participants are also encouraged to invite eligible relatives and friends to join the CRCSP.
At the same time, the Primary Healthcare Commission is actively promoting the Life Course Preventive Care Plan. Based on the core principles of prevention-oriented and whole-person care, a personalised preventive care plan will be formulated to address the health needs of citizens across different life stages with reference to the latest evidence. Family doctors and primary healthcare professionals will collaborate to provide services based on age, sex, family history and other personal factors, such as advice on healthy lifestyle, chronic disease and cancer screening, which includes colorectal cancer screening.
The years of birth for eligible persons are updated at the beginning of each year. Eligible persons who are interested in joining the CRCSP must enrol in the Electronic Health System (eHealth). Please refer to the eHealth website at www.ehealth.gov.hkor call the Registration Office at 3467 6300 for details.
For more information on the CRCSP, please visit the DH's thematic website www.colonscreen.gov.hk or call the dedicated hotline (3565 6288) during office hours.
The Health Bureau (HB), Photo source: news.gov.hk
