ESR Concludes First EU Screening Week Campaign

Following a week-long awareness campaign, the European Society of Radiology (ESR) has completed its activities for the first EU Screening Week, held from 28 September to 4 October 2026.

The initiative aimed to enhance public awareness regarding preventive healthcare, screening, and early detection of diseases. Accompanying the slogan "Radiology saves lives. Get screened," the ESR launched a compelling visual campaign focusing on cardiovascular health and the early detection of breast, lung, and prostate cancers. This campaign emphasized the impact of medical imaging and the expertise of radiologists in identifying diseases early, often before symptoms arise.

Throughout the week, the ESR utilized its social media platforms to share dedicated content discussing topics such as cardiovascular risk, cancer screenings, and the vital role of imaging examinations. The campaign successfully reached over 300,000 individuals, extending its message beyond the radiology community.

To supplement the campaign, the ESR created a landing page that provided accessible information regarding cardiovascular risk and screening for breast, lung, and prostate cancers. This resource outlined what patients can expect from imaging examinations and directed them to further patient-focused materials.

Prof. Minerva Becker, Chair of the ESR Board of Directors, commented on the campaign's success, stating, "We are delighted with the response to our first EU Screening Week campaign. Our aim was to make the contribution of radiology to prevention and early detection visible and understandable to the public. The strong engagement with the campaign, together with the support of radiological societies across Europe, shows what we can achieve when our community comes together behind a clear message. Radiology saves lives…"

A key feature of the ESR initiative was the development of a comprehensive suite of campaign graphics and social media content. In addition to English visuals, editable templates were produced, allowing participating societies to localize the campaign in their languages.

These materials were distributed among ESR national member societies and European radiological subspecialty societies, enabling the broader radiology community to promote EU Screening Week through their communication channels. Some societies integrated the campaign into their existing activities, further amplifying its core messages.

At the ESR headquarters in Vienna, a special installation for EU Screening Week showcased the campaign visuals, providing a physical reminder of the importance of prevention and early detection.

Although the first EU Screening Week has concluded, the educational resources and campaign materials will remain available to further promote the role of radiology in prevention, screening, and early detection.