Health technology assessment and screening in The Netherlands: case studies of mammography in breast cancer, PSA screening in prostate cancer, and ultrasound in normal pregnancy.

Objective: To review the assessment and implementation of three screening methods: mammography for breast cancer, screening for prostate cancer, and routine use of ultrasound in pregnancy.

Methods: To review policy documents and published papers dealing with prevention and screening in the Netherlands, focusing on the three screening methods specified.

Results: The results indicate that the Netherlands has an active establishment devoted to health technology assessment (HTA).