Overview
- The Comisión de Salud Pública approved the change on May 20, 2026, extending the biennial mammography program from ages 50–69 to 45–74.
- Regions have up to three years to start changing their programs and up to six years to reach near‑universal invitation coverage for the new age groups.
- The ministry estimates a €534 million budget impact for 2025–2029 but says actual costs will be lower because several communities already widened their programs.
- Regional data helped drive the decision, with Navarra reporting a 4.20% detection rate for ages 45–49 between 2022–2024 and Galicia reporting an 8.7% rate for ages 70–74 in 2023, and Galicia’s health service (Sergas) plans to screen from age 45 by 2029.
- Patient activism pressing for earlier screening, the option to use a temporary three‑year interval to ease capacity gaps, and expected strain on staffing and equipment mean rollout timing and local rules will shape how fast women see the change in practice.