{"id":10192,"date":"2026-02-04T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msd.ch\/en\/?post_type=news_item&p=10192"},"modified":"2026-03-10T11:16:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T10:16:44","slug":"world-cancer-day-2026-prevention-and-early-detection-in-switzerland","status":"publish","type":"news_item","link":"https:\/\/www.msd.ch\/en\/news\/world-cancer-day-2026-prevention-and-early-detection-in-switzerland\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cancer Day 2026: The prevention gap in Switzerland must be closed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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World Cancer Day 2026: The prevention gap in Switzerland must be closed<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lucerne, February 4, 2026 \u2013 On World Cancer Day 2026, MSD reaffirms its commitment to advancing cancer care and prevention in Switzerland. This year’s theme, <\/strong>“United by Unique \u2013 Every Story Counts<\/strong>“, emphasizes the importance of putting people at the center of the fight against cancer.1<\/sup> While scientific progress continues to offer new hope, prevention and early detection remain the most effective means2<\/sup> to reduce the cancer burden.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Switzerland, investment in prevention lags behind international best practices.2 <\/sup>Despite clear evidence that early detection of cancer can save lives and reduce healthcare costs3<\/sup>, funding of national prevention efforts remain limited.4<\/sup> In the 2025 Public Health Index, which compares European countries in terms of preventive measures in the areas of tobacco, alcohol, nutrition and physical activity, Switzerland ranks at the bottom of the list with 32.4 out of 100 points.2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

48,000 new cancer cases annually and no National Strategy against Cancer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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According to the Swiss Cancer League\u2019s latest figures from November 2025 “Cancer in Switzerland: important figures”5<\/sup>, 21,644 women and 26,496 men were diagnosed with cancer in Switzerland (data source: Federal Statistical Office6<\/sup>), thus an average of 48,140 new cancer cases emerge each year. However, since the “National Strategy against Cancer” (NSK) expired at the end of 2020, there is no longer a nationally coordinated strategy to combat cancer.7<\/sup> Access to cancer screening also varies considerably between cantons, a disparity increasingly viewed as a matter of health inequity in health policy discussions.8<\/sup> A national cancer strategy that provides uniform access to cancer screening programs, such as breast cancer screening, could make a key contribution to improving the situation for patients.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cancer prevention: Falling behind internationally<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From an international perspective, Switzerland currently has different structural conditions in the area of cancer prevention. According to the International Cancer Control Partnership (ICCP) \u2013 a coalition of organizations dedicated to cancer control \u2013 more than 120 countries now have a national cancer plan.9<\/sup> With the “Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan” the European Union pursued the goal of enabling 90 percent of the European population to have access to certain structured early detection programs by 2025.10<\/sup> This is an objective that could also serve as a guiding example for Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Breast cancer screening is not used by everyone because on one hand they don’t feel personally addressed \u2013 they don’t experience symptoms and think it doesn’t concern them \u2013 on the other hand we have a patchwork in Switzerland when it comes to screening programs.<\/em>
Stefanie de Borba, Media Spokesperson Swiss Cancer League<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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February 4, 2026: World Cancer Day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

“United by Unique” is the theme of World Cancer Day 2026. This stands for patients with cancer who are connected through their diagnosis \u2013each with their own story.1<\/sup> As a partner organization of the campaign, the company MSD (MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG) advocates for preventive examinations and early detection of cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cancer care in Switzerland: Public calls for stronger focus on prevention & education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The fourth gfs.bern<\/em> survey, commissioned by MSD Switzerland (MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG), reveals a significant gap between the preventive measures needed to combat cancer and those implemented. Respondents are calling for more prevention, better education, and a more consistent healthcare system across Switzerland.8<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prevention example: Breast cancer screening<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Switzerland, women aged 50 to 74 years are invited every two years to participate in breast cancer screening through cantonal programs. Organized breast cancer screening programs are currently (as of February 2026) established in 16 Swiss cantons. Four cantons (AG, GL, LU, SH) are in the planning phase. In six cantons (NW, OW, SZ, UR, ZG, ZH), no organized breast cancer screening programs exist.11<\/sup> In cantons without a program, responsibility for breast cancer early detection lies with the woman herself or with her physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MSD: Forschung und Entwicklung im Kampf gegen Krebs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

MSD has a long history of developing innovative medicines. In the field of oncology, MSD focuses on immunotherapy, which aims to activate the body’s own immune system to fight tumors. A major commitment to research and development has enabled MSD to build an extensive research program with more than 1,600 clinical trials. Currently, the portfolio includes oncological medicines for the treatment of various types of cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MSD’s Commitment Against Cancer in Switzerland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n