Pink October 2026: the importance of reaching all women
Accessibility, Territory and Participation: The Real Challenge of Prevention Today
Reducing inequalities in access to early diagnosis requires a patient-centered approach that brings healthcare services as close as possible to all women.
In this context, mobile solutions integrated with Breast Units represent a practical response to accessibility challenges, overcoming geographical and sometimes psychological barriers. The GISMa Guidelines highlight how mobile units can help increase participation in screening programs, particularly in areas with limited healthcare services or greater barriers to access.
Mobile mammography units make it possible to provide diagnostic examinations directly within local communities, reaching rural areas, small towns, isolated populations, and locations where healthcare services are limited. According to GISMa, these units have the advantage of bringing the healthcare system closer to people, both physically and symbolically, while fostering collaboration with local authorities, associations, and community organizations, thereby strengthening participation in prevention initiatives.
he World Health Organization identifies equitable access to early detection, timely diagnosis, and treatment as essential pillars in reducing breast cancer mortality worldwide. Significant disparities in outcomes continue to exist between countries and population groups, often reflecting differences in access to healthcare services and screening opportunities.
International studies have also shown that mobile mammography services can play a key role in reducing geographic and socioeconomic inequalities. Experiences in Europe and North America demonstrate that mobile screening units help reach underserved populations, increase participation rates, and improve access among women who are less likely to attend traditional healthcare facilities.
The Italian experience further confirms the effectiveness of this model. As highlighted in the GISMa Guidelines, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region has been using mobile mammography units as its primary first-level screening modality since 2005, demonstrating that mobile screening can successfully operate not only in rural areas but also in urban settings where access to hospital facilities may be more difficult.
Bringing mammography closer to women helps simplify the screening pathway, reduce the time required to undergo an examination, and increase access opportunities for women who might otherwise choose not to be screened.
From Early Diagnosis to Health Equity
Equity in access to healthcare is one of the key objectives of national and international health policies. Increasing participation in mammography screening programs not only improves public health outcomes but also helps reduce the disparities that still characterize access to healthcare services today.
The GISMa Guidelines emphasize that mobile units are particularly effective in reaching population groups that traditionally have lower participation rates in screening programs, including women living far from healthcare facilities, those facing economic difficulties, and individuals belonging to socially vulnerable communities.
Furthermore, several international experiences reported in the scientific literature show that the introduction of mobile units can significantly increase participation in screening programs and support earlier diagnosis, improving the likelihood of detecting breast cancer at an early stage.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) also recognizes that the effectiveness of breast cancer screening programs depends not only on technology but on the ability of health systems to ensure broad, equitable access and high-quality diagnostic pathways.
It is therefore essential to ensure that all women can benefit from the same diagnostic tools, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status.
Metaltronica’s Role
Since 1977, Metaltronica has been developing imaging diagnostic solutions with the goal of supporting healthcare professionals and institutions in delivering increasingly efficient and accessible diagnostic pathways.
Among these solutions, mobile mammography units play a fundamental role in bringing prevention directly into communities and reaching a greater number of women, helping increase participation in screening programs and promoting earlier diagnosis.
We believe that technological innovation creates real value when it contributes to improving people’s lives. For this reason, we continue to develop solutions that help healthcare systems achieve their most important objective: making prevention accessible to all.
Your turn
Which action could have the greatest impact on increasing participation in breast cancer screening programs?
Take part in our LinkedIn poll and share your thoughts in the comments. Every contribution can help make prevention more accessible and bring screening services closer to women. 🎀
Sources
- GISMa, Guidelines on the Use of Mobile Mammography Units in Organized Breast Cancer Screening Programs for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer (2024-2026). [gisma.it]
- World Health Organization (WHO), Global Breast Cancer Initiative. [who.int]
- World Health Organization (WHO), WHO Position Paper on Mammography Screening. [who.int]
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Breast Cancer Screening Handbook. [publicatio…rc.who.int]
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), CanScreen5 Project. [screening.iarc.fr]
- Guillaume et al., Evaluation of a Mobile Mammography Unit to Reduce Breast Cancer Screening Inequalities (2022). [pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]