The programmatic Dutch Breast Screening Program started in 1990. Based on criteria formulated by Wilson and Jungner (1968):

• Relevance: disease is an important health problem
• Treatable: disease must be treatable with a generally accepted treatment
• Health infrastructure: there should be sufficient infrastructure for diagnosis
• Recognizable: there should be a recognizable latent stadium of the disease
• Natural course: the natural course of the disease should be known
• Illness: there should be consensus as to who is ill or most at risk
• Screeningtest: the screeningtest should be easy to use
• Acceptability: the screeningtest should be acceptable for the general population
• Cost-benefit: cost should be at least equal to the benefits
• Continuïty: the screening proces must be continuous.

The Dutch Screening Programs are secured by 4 important public values:

• Effectiveness
• Quality: safe, protocolized, uniform, and good alliance with health care
• Affordability: efficiency and cost-effectiveness
• Accessibility: close to participant, free of cost, free choice, timely