The Manitoba government announced on March 6, 2026, that 700 people have booked breast cancer screenings since the province made it easier to get a test. This change is helping residents in Selkirk, Manitoba, access early detection services that were previously only available to older age groups.
Starting January 2, 2026, the province lowered the age to book these tests from 50 to 45. People in this age group can now schedule an appointment with BreastCheck on their own without needing to visit a doctor for a referral note first.
The province reported that these 700 bookings were made during the first two months of the new program. There is a goal to further lower the age for these health screenings to 40 by the end of 2026 to help even more people get checked early.
This initiative is part of a provincial effort to modernize health services and reduce wait times for medical imaging. By removing the need for a doctor’s note, the province aims to make life-saving screenings more accessible for everyone in the community.
