[Costs and effects of alternative screening programs against cervical cancer]

This paper presents a framework for comparison of screening programme designs, based on efficiency and cost effectiveness criteria. Design parameters such as choice of screening interval and which population segments to screen are varied simultaneously. The costs and effects for a range of existing and hypothetical screening programmes for cervical cancer are estimated, using a mathematical simulation model. On the basis of these estimations incremental costs per life year are calculated for a range of programmes. Efficiency and cost effectiveness criteria indicate that extending screening programmes for cervical cancer beyond screening women in the age group 25-59 years every four years may not be optimal.