Bahrain’s early detection strategies are playing a key role in reducing cancer mortality rates, a senior government official has affirmed.
Health Minister Dr Jalila Al Sayyed said that the kingdom’s strengthened primary healthcare system – supported by the Choose Your Doctor programme – places early cancer diagnosis at the centre of national prevention efforts.
She highlighted that mammography services are now available across all governorates, ensuring timely screening for breast cancer. In addition, colorectal cancer screening has been incorporated into primary care during the current legislative term, expanding early detection measures for one of the region’s most prevalent cancers.
“Screening programmes for prostate and cervical cancer are also in place,” she told MPs during the Parliament session yesterday.
Dr Al Sayyed further explained that Bahrain’s prevention efforts extend beyond diagnostics.
The kingdom continues to roll out the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer as well as several other cancers affecting both men and women.
“These interventions help reduce illness and mortality rates and enable citizens to enjoy longer, healthier lives,” she said, noting that the government remains committed to strengthening early detection, improving outcomes and building a healthier population.
She also highlighted the National Genome Project, which supports early detection of genetic susceptibility to certain cancers, with co-ordination among government hospitals, the Royal Medical Services and oncology centres to provide counselling for high-risk cases.
More than 1,400 new cancer cases and around 4,500 kidney failure patients were registered in Bahrain in 2024, according to figures presented by the Health Ministry.
Until the end of 2024, kidney failure was responsible for 65 deaths, including nine expatriates, while cancer accounted for 524 fatalities, including 58 non-Bahrainis.
Meanwhile, responding to a parliamentary question by MP Jalal Kadhem Al Mahfoodh, the minister clarified that cancer death figures that are being widely circulated represent the total number of deaths recorded over several years – not mortalities among patients diagnosed in 2024 alone. She stressed the need for careful interpretation of statistics, warning against reading aggregated figures out of context.
“Cancer mortality figures must be read within their correct time frame,” Dr Al Sayyed said. “The deaths reported are cumulative across multiple years, while the registered cancer cases relate specifically to 2024. This distinction is critical for accuracy and informed decision-making.”
She added that the Health Ministry is committed to reviewing and refining statistical indicators to ensure they accurately reflect the health reality and support both policymakers and legislators.
On kidney disease, the minister explained that reported figures include all kidney-related visits – not just renal failure cases. These cover dialysis sessions, outpatient clinic reviews, laboratory tests, follow-ups at the Kidney Centre and visits to government hospitals.
“These numbers reflect service utilisation, not the number of kidney failure patients alone,” she noted, stressing the importance of clarity to avoid misinterpretation.
Dr Al Sayyed underlined that the government shares Parliament’s concern over non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which remain the leading cause of death globally. She cited cardiovascular diseases at the forefront, with diabetes and hypertension as major risk factors, alongside smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and genetic predisposition in some cancers, such as colorectal cancer.
From the parliamentary side, Mr Al Mahfoodh called for convening the National Assembly, bringing together both the Shura Council and Parliament, to discuss what he described as “deeply concerning” health statistics.
He claimed factory pollution was a major and influential factor in rising disease rates.
“Some neighbourhoods have effectively become dumping grounds for industrial pollution,” he alleged, adding that psychological stress was another key driver of declining public health.
Citing 2024 data, he said 1,230 Bahraini citizens were diagnosed with cancer compared to 171 expatriates, despite expatriates forming a larger share of the population – figures he said raise serious questions.
He called for a higher health budget, expanded medical scholarships, overseas treatment when necessary, accelerated implementation of the national health insurance scheme and stronger media-led health awareness campaigns, alongside early screening which remains the cornerstone of successful treatment.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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