Case Studies

Slovenia has established effective screening programs for cervical, breast and colorectal cancers, which were developed through years of collaboration between experts and policymakers. These programs have been rigorously tested and have demonstrated their efficacy over time. On this basis, the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) mandate established the National Committee for Cancer Screening in 2020 to guide the development of new screening programs using proven methods to ensure high-quality cancer early detection for the population. 

The committee was set up by the Ministry of Health and consists of oncology experts, public health experts and policymakers. Its role is to ensure structured processes to guide proposals for new screening programmes. It provides comprehensive documents outlining the evaluation process, expert meetings for the evaluation, advice on additional resources, planning of the pilot studies, etc. to be considered for the development of the screening programmes. 

At the end of 2024, two proposals for lung and prostate cancer screening were initiated through the committee, for which the committee appointed an expert group, consisting of group of specialists in specific fields pertaining the suggestion and patient representatives to work on the further preparation of screening programme proposals. 

The ultimate goal of this initiative is to ensure equitable access to high quality cancer screening services within the Slovenian healthcare system. In addition, new screening programmes designed to the highest level of evidence can help to ensure high participation in screening activities, thereby increasing the efficiency of cancer care spending and ultimately leading to higher survival rates and reduced mortality.

Enablers: The initiative benefits from strong support from the NCCP leadership, the Ministry of Health, and patient organizations (Governance), ensuring a focus on high-quality and accessible services.

Barriers: Funding of the work of the committee remains a challenge (Financing), as the budget only includes the cost of meetings and not other technical input and time equivalent, particularly, for consultations with foreign-based experts. In addition, the limited number of experts familiar with cancer screening in Slovenia hinders the setup and operation of the committee.

Lessons learned: The National Committee for Cancer Screening in Slovenia underscores the value of sustained collaboration between experts, policymakers and patient representatives. A consensus-driven approach ensures well-structured proposals and strategic planning, while building on existing screening programs strengthens effectiveness and accessibility. This initiative demonstrates how leveraging established knowledge, clear governance and collective expertise can drive successful national cancer screening efforts.