Population screening for cervical cancer

The Netherlands has a good cervical cancer screening programme. Nevertheless, there are ways in which cervical cancer prevention might be improved. A new test method is available, for example; participation amongst women in certain subgroups could be increased and follow-up for screen-positive women could also be improved. In this report, the Health Council reviews developments in this field and gives advice on reshaping of the screening programme.

Committee

• Prof. J. van der Noordaa, Professor Emeritus of Virology, University of Amsterdam, chairman
• A. C. Ansink, MD, PhD, Gynaecologist/Oncologist, Comprehensive Cancer Centre Netherlands
• M. van Ballegooijen, MD, PhD, Epidemiologist, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, adviser
• Prof. I.D. de Beaufort, PhD, Professor of Health Ethics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam
• Prof. P.J.E. Bindels, MD, PhD, Professor of General Practice, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam
• Prof. J.T. van Dissel, MD, PhD, Professor of Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease, Leiden University Medical Centre
• P.G.H. Janssen, MD, PhD, GP, Netherlands College of General Practitioners, Utrecht, adviser
• Prof. G.G. Kenter, MD, PhD, Professor of Oncological Gynaecology, Centre for Gynaecological Oncology, Amsterdam
• Prof. M.E.E. Kretzschmar, PhD, Theoretical Epidemiologist, Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, University Utrecht, adviser
• Prof. C.J.L.M. Meijer, MD, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Pathology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, adviser
• H.E. de Melker, PhD, Epidemiologist, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven
• W.G.V. Quint, PhD, Molecular Biologist, DDL Diagnostic Laboratory, Voorburg, adviser
• A. Rendering, LL.M, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, observer
• Prof. E.A.M. Sanders, MD, PhD, Professor of Immunology and Infections, University of Utrecht
• W.A. van Veen, MD, Physician, Delft, adviser
• N. van der Veen, PhD, Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, observer
• Prof. H.J.C. de Vries, MD, PhD, Dermatologist, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam
• Prof. A.L.M. Verbeek, MD, PhD, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, University Medical Centre St Radboud, Nijmegen
• K. Groeneveld, PhD, Health Council, The Hague, scientific secretary