ПОПУЛЯЦІЙНИЙ ОНКОСКРИНІНГ ТА РАННЯ ДІАГНОСТИКА В ЦЕНТРАЛЬНІЙ АЗІЇ: НАРАТИВНИЙ ОГЛЯД

Cancer screening and early detection programs remain unevenly developed across the five Central Asian republics, yielding a substantial disparity between the preventable disease burden and achieved clinical outcomes. Objective. To summarize the current status and identified gaps in population-based cancer screening for three World Health Organization (WHO)-priority cancers (cervical, breast, and colorectal) in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, and to propose evidence-based recommendations for the regional strengthening of these programs. Materials and methods. A narrative review was conducted utilizing a structured literature search of the PubMed and Scopus databases (2017–2025), supplemented with reports from the WHO, IARC, and UNFPA. The search strategy incorporated terms including "Central Asia cancer screening", "Kazakhstan cervical breast colorectal screening", "Uzbekistan early cancer detection", and related terminology. Eligible sources comprised peer-reviewed publications, national program reports, and international agency documents. This study was performed as a research initiative of the Department of Oncology, Bukhara State Medical Institute named after Abu Ali ibn Sino. Results. Kazakhstan has implemented organized, government-funded screening for cervical, breast, and colorectal cancers, achieving approximately 70% coverage in targeted age groups by 2024 and demonstrating measurable improvements in early-stage detection. The remaining four countries rely predominantly on opportunistic approaches, yielding an estimated coverage of less than 20% for most malignancies. Regional barriers encompass shortages of trained personnel, insufficient diagnostic infrastructure outside capital cities, underdeveloped cancer registries, and low population awareness. Conclusions. Transitioning from opportunistic to organized, quality-assured screening represents the most critical intervention for the region. Across all participating nations, human papillomavirus (HPV)-based cervical screening offers the most readily scalable approach. Concurrent investments in HPV vaccination, tobacco control, cancer registries, and workforce training constitute essential prerequisites for achieving sustainable impact.