Cervical cancer screening in the Czech Republic

In January 2008, the Czech Ministry of Health (MZCR) launched the nationwide screening programme focused on the early detection of cervical cancer, thus adding another programme of cancer prevention to the nationwide breast cancer screening, which started in 2002. Regular gynaecological examinations are widely accessible to all women, protecting them from specific types of cancer. The objective of this screening programme is to ensure that cytological samples collected by gynaecologists will be examined in accredited laboratories, which meet the criteria of modern diagnostic methods.

The Cervical Cancer Screening Programme in the Czech Republic follows the recommendation of the European Council from 2nd November 2003 (2003/878/EC), stating that all EU members should adopt organised screening programmes for breast cancer, cervical cancer and colorectal cancer. The European Council recommends the collection of data on preventive examination, subsequent diagnostic procedures and final diagnoses. These data should be used to monitor the screening process and the results should be made available to the public and to health professionals.

From the legislative point of view, the project is enshrined in the Decree no. 3/2010 Coll. of MZCR, stipulating the content and intervals of preventive examinations. Specifically, the criteria and conditions for cervical cancer screening in the Czech Republic are defined by the Czech Ministry of Health Gazette No. 07/2007.

The Cervical Cancer Screening Programme currently runs in several dozen accredited laboratories whose functioning is monitored and checked according to transparent rules. The programme course, adherence to the stipulated rules, as well as research activities linked to the project are overseen by the Cervical Cancer Screening Committee at the Ministry of Health.

Related issues

 Accredited cytology laboratories
 Gynaecological examination
 Cervical cancer
 Epidemiology of cervical cancer
 Screening process