Breast Cancer: Mortality Rates | Screening Programs | Policies (Detection) | Policies (Reading)

Organization of Population-Based Breast Cancer Screening Programs in 22 Countries Surveyed in 1995

Country	Year Organized* Program Began	% Target Population Covered by Organized* Programs	Year National Coverage Expected	Type** of System	Facilities Used***	Major Source of Funding for MM in Program
ICSN Program Countries
Australia	Natl 1991	75-100	1996	PC	MC,GR,M	G¹
Canada	Natl 1988	<25	Not planned	DC	MC,GR,M	G
Finland	Natl 1989	100	1989	C	MC	G
Iceland	Natl 1987	100	1989	C	MC,GR,M	G
Israel	Natl 1995	70	1997/1998	C	MC	G, HMO²
Italy	Reg 1990	<25	Not planned	DC	MC	G
Hungary	Not begun	NA³	2010	NA	MC,GR	G
Japan	Natl 1987 CBE	8	2000 (MM)	C	MC	G
The Netherlands	Natl 1988	76-100	1997	PC	MC,M	G
Sweden	Natl 1986	100	1997	PC	MC	G
United Kingdom	Natl 1988	100	1996	PC	MC,M	G
United States	Natl 1991	25-50	Not planned	PC	MC,GR,M	G
Uruguay	Not begun	<25	Not planned	NA	MC	NA
European Network Pilot Projects
Belgium	Reg 1992	<25	Not planned	DC	MC,GR	G
Denmark	Reg 1992	<25	Not planned	PC	GR	G
France	Reg 1989 Natl 1994	30-40	Not planned	DC	GR	Natl Health Assurance
Germany ⁴	Not begun	NA	Not planned	NA	NA	EAC⁵
Greece ⁶	Reg 1989/91	60; <25 Natl	Not planned	DC	MC,GR,M	EAC
Ireland	Reg 1989	<25	2000	PC	MC,M
Luxembourg	Natl 1992	36	Not planned	C	GR	Union of Sickness
Portugal	Reg 1990	25-50	Not planned	PC	MC,M	G
Spain	Reg 1989	<25	Not planned	NA	MC,M	G

Data reflects information from organized screening programs. However, data for the United States reflects government sponsored programs supporting screening for low income women and the voluntary Medicare benefit for women 65 years of age and over.

* In second column refers to national (Natl) and regional (Reg) programs. In third column refers to percentage of the national population covered by national programs if available and by regional programs if no national program was established by 1995.

** C represents centralized systems that have a national policy and administration of programs, and national or both national and regional funding. PC represents partially centralized systems that have the same characteristics as centralized systems except that programs are administered regionally. DC represents decentralized systems that have a national policy, but regional funding and administration.

*** Facilities used for the delivery of mammograms in organized programs: MC = dedicated mammography screening centers; GR = nondedicated centers, such as general radiology departments; M = mobile units.

¹ G = Government.

² HMO = Health maintenance organization.

³ NA = Not applicable.

⁴ Describes plans in Germany as of 1995 which were not further implemented.

⁵ EAC = Europe Against Cancer.

⁶ Greece has two programs. In one, termed Greece I (the Hellenic Society of Oncology), the program began in 1989, currently has a 60% participation for women 40-64 in its region, and uses only mobile units dedicated to screening. In the other, termed Greece II, the program began in 1992, does not have an estimate for participation within its region, and uses both mammography centers and general radiology departments as facilities for screening.