2025/08/28 Prof. Han-Mo Chiu Highlights Taiwan’s Colorectal Cancer Screening Achievements

[Taipei] At the “2025 Asia Pacific Health Promotion and Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Workshop” held in Taiwan, Professor Han-Mo Chiu of National Taiwan University College of Medicine delivered a keynote address, presenting Taiwan’s two-decade experience in colorectal cancer screening, its remarkable successes, ongoing challenges, and future directions.
Prof. Chiu underscored that colorectal cancer is one of the cancers with the strongest evidence base for screening. Since the nationwide fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based program was launched in 2004 under the Cancer Control Act, Taiwan has implemented a two-step strategy of FIT screening followed by colonoscopy for positive cases. This approach has proven highly effective: within ten years, colorectal cancer mortality dropped by 35%, and the proportion of late-stage cases was substantially reduced, marking Taiwan’s program as a model in global public health.
Despite these achievements, Prof. Chiu emphasized that important challenges remain. Participation rates are still insufficient, limiting the program’s full potential. Interval cancers—those diagnosed after a negative FIT result—pose another challenge, particularly in the proximal colon. Moreover, quality variations and complications associated with colonoscopy highlight the need for standardized reporting and adoption of safer, more effective techniques such as cold-snare polypectomy.
A pressing issue, he noted, is the rise of early-onset colorectal cancer in Taiwan, especially among individuals aged 40 to 49. In response, the government has lowered the screening age from 50 to 45 in 2025, aiming to detect cancers earlier in younger high-risk groups. Taiwan has also evaluated the possible innovative practices, such as collaborating with convenience stores for stool sample collection and moving toward precision, risk-stratified screening to optimize resource allocation. According to the statistics, between 2004 and 2016, the screening program generated an estimated NT$46 billion in healthcare savings, further underscoring its societal value.
In closing, Prof. Chiu emphasis that colorectal cancer screening should not be viewed merely as a test, but as a comprehensive public health system that integrates policy, quality assurance, risk management, and public engagement. “Only by strengthening the structure, ensuring quality, and boosting participation can we truly safeguard population health and reduce the burden on families and society,” he said. His remarks highlighted Taiwan’s achievements and offered valuable lessons for the Asia-Pacific region in advancing non-communicable disease prevention and health promotion.