Is it true that Switzerland banned mammograms because of radiation and false positive concerns?

A claim circulating online claims that Switzerland has become the first country to ban mammograms over concerns about radiation risks, false positive results and other dangers.

Switzerland still offers mammography services - Photo: Well Women Bone & Breast Care

Posts claiming Switzerland has banned mammograms have spread across multiple platforms, including one on X that has received more than 1 million views by the time fact-checking site Snopes ran an article to clarify the rumor.

Switzerland is the first country to ban mammography ?

The posts read: "Breaking News: Switzerland becomes the first country to ban mammograms, exposing the shocking truth behind the biggest medical scam. Learn how mammograms are harming women, with up to 60% false positive rates, cancer risks and a profit-driven system that is exploiting millions. It's time to choose safe, non-invasive alternatives!"

According to Snopes , this claim is not new; it has been making repeated appearances since at least May 2024. Similar claims have been circulating since 2014, when the now-defunct Swiss Medical Board published a report questioning the effectiveness of breast cancer screening programs.

Snopes has reached out to the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health for comment and context on this claim, but has yet to receive a response.

However, a spokesman for the Swiss health authority confirmed to Reuters and PolitiFact in 2024 and early 2025 that Switzerland has never banned mammography – an effective method of breast cancer screening.

PolitiFact quoted spokesman Daniel Dauwalder as saying: "Mammography is not banned in Switzerland at all." Reuters reported that another spokesman said the statement was a misinterpretation of a 2014 report by the Swiss Medical Council.

Switzerland still offers mammography services

There is also evidence that as of this writing, Switzerland still offers systematic mammography in the majority of cantons across the country, as shown on the map on the Swiss Cancer Screening website.

States that do not yet offer systematic mammography services are adopting "referral-based" programs or planning to implement systematic screening programs in the future.

An update line on the website says the page was last edited in early September 2025.

Opinions may vary on the risks of routine mammograms due to the small doses of ionizing radiation used during the procedure, but the US Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammograms every two years for women aged 50-74 who are at average risk for breast cancer.

Women aged 40–49 should talk with their health care provider about when or how often they should have a mammogram, based on their individual risk and health history.

DAWN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/co-that-thuy-si-cam-chup-nhu-anh-vi-lo-ngai-buc-xa-va-duong-tinh-gia-20250906141103235.htm