Dutch women to be sent testing kits to boost cervical screening rates

“Screening is aimed at detecting cervical cancer but particularly the early stages, and those cases run into the thousands every year,” said Sandra van Dijk,  RIVM’s manager in charge of cervical cancer screening.

“We can treat that and prevent it from turning onto cancer, so it’s a very effective approach.

“All women who turn 30 get the test in the post, then, from 35 they can choose between a self-test or have it done at the doctor. If they do not choose either one, they will be sent a kit.”

Each year, around 900 women in the Netherlands get cervical cancer and 200 die from this disease. Without the population screening, that figure would be 500.

The population screening enables early detection of precancerous stages of cervical cancer which can usually be treated effectively and prevent the onset of cervical cancer.

Until now, smear tests could only have been done at a GP practice. According to an official report from 2021, 54 per cent of invitees took part in the population screening.

Participation was lowest among women aged 30–34, with 44 per cent of them taking part, despite previous research showing that as many as 91 per cent intended to come forward. Reasons for not taking part included inconvenience and discomfort.