Early Detection Saves Lives. So Why Are So Many Women in Southeast Asia Still Not Screened?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women across every country in Southeast Asia. In Singapore alone, 1 in 12 women will develop it in their lifetime1, the highest incidence rate in the region. Yet despite these numbers and despite the fact that breast cancer detected early carries a 99% five-year survival rate2,3, millions of women across the region are not getting screened regularly.
The gap between what we know and what we do is one of the most important challenges in women’s health in our region today.
Why are so many women not getting screened?
The barriers are well documented. Many women do not attend regular mammography because of limited awareness, fear of the procedure, cost concerns, the absence of noticeable symptoms and difficulty accessing a facility. In markets beyond Singapore, the challenges run deeper still. Limited mammography capacity, urban-rural disparities, equipment shortages outside major cities and long travel distances all make access harder.
The result is a region where breast cancer is the leading cancer among women but early detection remains the exception rather than the rule.
Every woman across Southeast Asia deserves timely access to accurate breast screening. Our partnership with Hologic allows us to bring proven imaging technology to healthcare providers across the region, closer to the communities that need it most.
– Lennon Goh, Regional Business Development Manager, ITS Science & Medical Group
The shift that is already happening
Across Southeast Asia, healthcare providers are beginning to rethink how they approach breast health. Screening is no longer being treated as a one-off diagnostic service. It is evolving into a broader population health strategy, one that covers the full care continuum from initial screening through to diagnosis and follow-up care.
Providers are increasingly investing in integrated solutions rather than standalone equipment. National screening programmes are expanding. Private hospital networks, women’s health centres, community diagnostic centres and corporate wellness programmes are all emerging as new access points for breast screening across the region.
The shift is real and it is accelerating.
The role of technology
Technology is central to this transformation. 3D mammography, known as digital breast tomosynthesis, is playing an increasingly important role, detecting abnormalities that standard 2D imaging can miss, particularly in women with dense breast tissue, which is more prevalent among Asian women.
As awareness of this grows, providers across Southeast Asia are actively seeking solutions that combine better clinical accuracy with improved patient experience and workflow efficiency.
ITS and Hologic: bringing better breast health to Southeast Asia
ITS Science and Medical Group, in partnership with Hologic, a global leader in women’s health, works with hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers across seven Southeast Asian markets to make high-quality breast imaging more accessible.
Hologic’s portfolio of breast health solutions, including the 3Dimensions Mammography System with 3D tomosynthesis, supports the full breast care continuum. ITS brings deep regional expertise and established provider relationships across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Cambodia to help providers implement these solutions effectively and sustainably.
Together, ITS and Hologic are not just supplying equipment. We are partnering with healthcare providers to build breast health programmes that deliver lasting clinical and community impact across Southeast Asia.
Ready to strengthen your breast health programme?
If you are a healthcare provider, clinic administrator or hospital decision-maker looking to improve your breast screening capabilities, we would love to hear from you.
Contact ITS Science and Medical Group to learn more.
Learn more about Hologic breast health solutions at hologic.com/breast-health
Sources:
1. Singapore Cancer Society – Breast Cancer.
2. National Breast Cancer Foundation – Early Detection of Breast Cancer.
3. Parkway Cancer Centre – Understanding Cancer Survival Rates.
Published by ITS Science and Medical Group | In partnership with Hologic
ITS Science & Medical Group operates across seven Southeast Asian markets. Learn more at one-its.com