Dr. Songphol Malakorn from Chulalongkorn University University delivered an insightful presentation at ICG 19 MH, focusing on the current status of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Thailand. He highlighted that CRC is a significant public health issue, ranking as the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country. With a population of 71 million, effective screening is crucial, but we are confronting substantial challenges, including a shortage of just 800 endoscopists for over 28 million individuals!

To combat this issue, collaborations with BGI Genomics are enhancing screening programs through innovative non-invasive tests like COLOTECT, which increase sensitivity for early detection. Dr. Malakorn emphasized, ”The FIT test and stool DNA offer promising solutions to alleviate the burden on colonoscopy.“