Background

Cancer remains a critical global health burden, with an estimated 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths reported worldwide in 2022. The age-standardized incidence rate stands at approximately 197 per 100,000, and projections indicate a significant increase by 2050, driven largely by population aging and modifiable risk factors. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), cancer incidence has risen over the past decade, with around 7,487 new cases reported in 2023 and an age-standardized rate of 105 per 100,000. The most prevalent cancers include breast, thyroid, and colorectal cancers. Early detection through systematic screening is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality; however, challenges persist in risk identification, documentation, follow-up, and surveillance.

In 2019, the Emirates Health Organization (EHS) launched a nurse-led, opportunistic cancer screening initiative across hospitals and primary healthcare centers to identify eligible patients for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening. While this effort improved screening identification, it faced limitations in workflow integration, standardized documentation, and population-level reporting. To address these gaps and ensure universal screening coverage with structured follow-up, the Sehaty Cancer Screening Program was introduced within the EHS ecosystem.

?Objectives

The Sehaty Cancer Screening Program is a digitally integrated initiative anchored in the Oracle Electronic Health Record (EHR) platform. Its primary aim is to implement a structured, risk-based cancer screening program across public health facilities, promoting early detection, standardized workflows, timely referrals, and seamless data integration with the national cancer registry. Key objectives include:

Increasing screening coverage through targeted invitations and systematic risk assessment.
Reducing time to diagnosis and referral via integrated clinical-decision support.
Ensuring automated, real-time enrollment of screening data into the national cancer registry.
Generating actionable, population-level insights to support cancer control strategies and public health planning.

Methods

Nurses and allied health professionals use standardized digital tools within the EHR to identify eligible patients for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening during routine visits or health campaigns. Targeted invitations are sent to due patients, including those previously screened.

Risk assessments guide screening recommendations, and physicians order appropriate tests (e.g., mammograms, colonoscopies). Patients are categorized by risk level to tailor management strategies. A dedicated EHR-embedded worklist tracks each patient’s journey in real time—from test ordering to results and follow-up.

Screening outcomes and diagnoses are documented in the EHR and automatically linked to the national cancer registry, supporting surveillance and quality improvement. Patients with abnormal results are referred to dedicated care pathways, with care coordinators ensuring continuous follow-up.

Expected Results

The Sehaty Cancer Screening Program is expected to improve early identification of at-risk individuals, enhance coordination between screening and referral pathways, reduce documentation gaps, and strengthen the completeness and timeliness of cancer registry data.

Conclusions
By integrating risk-based screening with standardized workflows and registry linkage, the Sehaty Cancer Screening Program is anticipated to strengthen early cancer detection and population-level surveillance across public health settings. This model aligns with international cancer control priorities and is expected to support evidence-based policy development, resource planning, and continuous improvement of national screening programs.
 

Figure 1