ScreenIT has been designed for the Dutch population screening programmes for cervical, breast and colorectal cancer. This ICT system supports the primary screening process.

Population screening in the Netherlands is not a standalone process, it is part of a care chain.

RIVM participates in a wide range of international research and innovation projects to help solve some of the biggest societal challenges. Within the field of population screening, RIVM participates in several international networks. A few examples of international projects and networks are shown below.  

The National Population Screening Programmes are successful in reaching large parts of the target population. Several factors facilitate the effective implementation of population screening in the Netherlands.

The very first screening programme in the Netherlands started around 1950, after which many more screening programmes followed. RIVM has been coordinating all of these programmes since 2006. A brief historic overview and recent innovations are highlighted in timelines.

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport commissioned RIVM with the nationwide direction and supervision of prevention and screening programmes. RIVM set up the Centre for Population Screening (Centrum voor Bevolkingsonderzoek, CvB) in 2006 to carry out that task.  

The ongoing monitoring of each screening programme is entrusted to an independent organisation. This organisation annually collects tabulated data on invitations, participation, examinations, referrals and detected abnormalities. This data is published in the programme-specific Monitors.

The Centre for Population Screening directs and coordinates the national population screening programmes offered by the government. It is also responsible for the National Influenza Prevention Programme. The centre connects the parties in policy making and implementation. It organises and supports the network proactively and aims to further develop current population screening and successfully implement new screening. In this video, we explain the core activities and responsibilities of the centre for population screening.