Daman covers breast screening for female customers over 35

Starting from 1st April 2008, all female customers aged 35 and above enrolled in Daman's benefit plans will be eligible for an annual breast cancer screening in the selected healthcare providers of Daman Network.

The Ministry of Health recorded 140 breast cancer cases in the UAE between 1998 and 2002 alone, making it the single most commonly occurring cancer among the UAE population. It was also the most commonly occurring cancer among UAE females, accounting for 22.8% of the total number of diagnosed cancer cases.

Studies revealed that prevention remains the most effective way to fight this disease and early detection can greatly reduce complications, thereby giving women more treatment options and a greater chance of survival.

Commenting on the statistics, Dr. Michael Bitzer, CEO of Daman, said: 'Those are drastic numbers, symptoms only occur when the tumor has already been fully developed. Early detection can highly increase survival chances.'

'The inclusion of such a benefit in our plans reflects our commitment in enhancing the healthcare system and contribution towards a healthier society. We are proud to announce that Daman is the first insurance company in the Gulf Region to include this benefit, we are also working on adding more benefits to our plans in the coming future,' added Dr. Michael.

To demonstrate its commitment, Daman will be conducting several activities across the UAE to create awareness on the importance of Breast Screening.

Dr. Michael concluded 'We hope that by including the free screening in our plans, women will be encouraged to take the test, thus decreasing the spreading of such disease.'

Over 80% of Breast Cancer diagnosis in the UAE is made in the advanced stages when the odds on complete recovery are slimmer. Finding the tumor at the early stages is vital to prevent the spreading of the malignant cells, which makes breast screening a key prevention step.

The National Health Insurance Company - Daman is constantly working on improving the health and welfare of the UAE community by upgrading the quality of their products.