Quality assurance in breast screening in Europe

An extensive pathology External Quality Assurance has been set up in Europe based on the experience of the UK programme. There are approximately 300 p articipating pathologists in France alone. With the end of the Third Action Plan (1996-2000) it is likely that the Europe Against Cancer programme wil l cease. However, screening will remain one of the four major public health activities funded by the European Commission and the screening network whi ch has resided under the auspices of DGV (Industrial Relations and Social A ffairs) is likely to be transferred to DGXXIV (Consumer Protection and Publ ic Health). This would seem to be ideal siting for the activities necessary for high quality screening. It is anticipated that the drive for continued quality assurance, expansion of organised screening and the spread of skil ls from high quality screening programmes into symptomatic sector activity will continue for the foreseeable future. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.