News item | 05-02-2026 | 1:00 PM
Due to the data theft at one of the laboratories for the cervical cancer screening program last summer, all tests administered are now carried out by two laboratories instead of three. Because there is less capacity, structural disadvantages have arisen, which has led the Netherlands Population Survey to decide to invite fewer women. As a result, women have to wait longer between two examinations. State Secretary Judith Tielen (Youth, Prevention and Sport), together with all organizations involved, wants to get the cervical cancer population screening back in order as quickly as possible.
The expertise required for high-quality population research is only available to a limited extent. In order to increase capacity again, Population Research Netherlands is therefore investigating whether collaboration with the third laboratory can be resumed. Independent safety research has been conducted, with which concrete improvement plans have been drawn up. Based on this and intensive contact, Population Research Netherlands has sufficient confidence to give Clinical Diagnostics the opportunity to bring information security to the required level. The laboratory has indicated that it will do everything it can to resolve all shortcomings in the next six months. Population Research Netherlands will only restart the collaboration if it can be independently determined that the data of all participants is secure in every possible way.
Safety data is a tough condition
State Secretary Tielen: “I am very disappointed that women who participate in this population screening are now also faced with delays. Even though the expected effects on health are probably minimal, we all have a duty to ensure that the capacity of the cervical cancer population screening is fully in order again as quickly as possible. It goes without saying that the security of all data from all women who participate is a very strict condition.”
