A Major Step in Public Health

In 2025, Iceland reached an important public health milestone with the launch of the first pilot phase of a population-based colorectal cancer screening programme. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Iceland. The aim of the population-based screening is to reduce colorectal cancer mortality through early detection. Planning and organisation of the programme have been underway since 2021 at the Cancer Screening Coordination Centre, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Directorate of Health, Landspítali University Hospital, Iceland Health, and gastroenterologists.

FIT Stool Test 

The population-based colorectal cancer screening programme uses a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) to detect occult blood in stool samples. FIT kits are mailed to eligible individuals along with an informational brochure on colorectal cancer screening and clear instructions on how to complete the test. Participants return their samples by mail or deliver them to their nearest primary health care centre. Individuals with a positive FIT result are referred for colonoscopy for further evaluation to determine the presence of colorectal cancer.

Invitations

During the first phase of the pilot, invitations were sent to 200 individuals aged 69 years. As of January 2026, the second pilot phase is ongoing. In this phase, the remaining individuals aged 69 years who did not receive an invitation for colorectal cancer screening during the first pilot phase were invited before the end of 2025. The invited age groups will be gradually expanded to include all individuals aged 60–74 years, who will be offered screening every two years. In the long term, the programme aims to invite all individuals aged 50–74 years to participate in colorectal cancer screening.