Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health issue in France, with 47,500 new cases and 17,100 deaths annually. Early detection is crucial, as CRC is curable in 9 out of 10 cases when diagnosed early. France’s national program invites individuals aged 50-74 to undergo biennial screening using an immunological fecal occult blood test (FOBT), accessible via general practitioners, pharmacies, or by mail. However, participation remains low at 34.5%. In contrast, the UK mails test kits every two years to individuals aged 50-74, achieving a participation rate of around 67%. The Netherlands also sends test kits by mail every two years to individuals aged 55-75, with a participation rate of approximately 67%.This study assesses the economic benefits of reinforcing organized CRC screening to improve early detection and reduce healthcare costs.
METHODS: A health economic evaluation was conducted using literature review, internal French Cerba data, Biol’AM database insights, grey literature, and medico-economic modeling to estimate the financial impact of enhanced CRC screening.
RESULTS: The target population in France includes 17.7 million individuals, with 368,000 living with CRC and 47,582 new cases annually. The average age is 71, with 55% men. CRC management costs €1.8 billion annually—€1.5 billion for active treatment and €254 million for follow-up—averaging €4,800 per patient. Modeling shows that preventing just 10% of CRC cases through improved screening could save €690 million over ten years, even after accounting for screening costs. Early detection also reduces the need for costly late-stage treatments and improves survival rates.
CONCLUSIONS: Improving follow-up, optimizing reminders, and expanding access to kits—via biologists, eligibility modules, and biennial SMS alerts—could boost participation, reduce mortality, and generate long-term savings for the healthcare system.