How cost-effective is breast cancer screening in different EC countries?

Should the decision to start breast cancer screening in the Netherlands and in the U.K. be followed by other EC countries? This question has been addressed in an exploratory analysis of the differences in cost-effectiveness of breast cancer screening in Spain, France, the U.K. and the Netherlands. A detailed cost-effectiveness analysis of breast cancer screening in the Netherlands has been used as the starting point. Country specific data on incidence, mortality, demography, screening organisation and price levels in health care have been used to predict the costs and effects of nationwide screening programmes, in which women aged 50-70 are invited for 2-yearly mammographic screening. The relative effect of screening is highest in the U.K. (16.55 life-years gained per 1000 screens) and lowest in Spain (8.23 life-years gained per 1000 screens). The cost per screen is highest in Spain (38 pounds) and lowest in the U.K. (18 pounds). In comparison with the yearly health expenditures per capita, the cost per life-year gained is 2.8 times higher in the Netherlands, 3.1 times higher in the U.K., 6.5 times higher in France and 20.6 times higher in Spain. These marked differences show that no uniform policy recommendations for breast cancer screening can be made for all countries of the EC.