The cervical cancer screening programme in Finland is a remarkable success. According to professor Nea Malila, the director of the Mass Screening Registry in Finland, mortality from cervical cancer has decreased by more than 80 per cent since the screening programme was introduced in the 1960s.

During the 1990s, the first laboratory systems were modified to include screening anamnesis and cytology reports. This was managed manually. Invitation letters were sent from the local nurse’s offices after scheduling the smear test. Any correspondence between the laboratories and nurses was also handled by mail. Data collection forms were populated with demographic data and printed months before the actual visit.

“Today, modern technology is used to automate all aspects of CSF’s screening process. The Commit (Optomed Software) Screening solution from Finnish healthcare IT specialist Commit (Optomed Software) provides comprehensive functionality to all involved in the process, from scheduling appointments over the internet, to the taking of smear samples, followed by analysis and referrals. By automating routine work, the system enables flexibility, timely operations, and cost savings, while providing all parties within the programme with the information they need to ensure a successful screening cycle for every patient.”

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