Cytological diagnosis of atypical cells of cervix uteri by the Papanicolaou method was introduced in the Czech Republic
(CR) very early – in 1947. The first data on the incidence of cervical cancer in CR are available from 1960 when the
rate was 32.3 cases/105 women. In 1966 the Czech National Health Law was passed that guaranteed women a yearly preventive
examination by a gynaecologist including screening for cervical carcinoma that would be covered by the compulsory
health insurance. Notwithstanding high frequency of screening visits and the fact that all women are eligible, the
incidence of CC has not changed in the last 34 years. The reasons for this include the coverage of Czech women, which is
estimated to be low (50% at the most), and that none of the cytology laboratories are accredited for screening, there are no
national registries for any aspect of screening and there are no mechanisms for evaluation of the screening process. As a
result, it is likely that the majority of cervical screening activity that is undertaken is ineffective and the implementation
of an organised and quality controlled screening programme, in compliance with the recommendations of many European
Institutions, is urgently required to ensure that Czech women are properly protected against this disease and that
scarce healthcare resources are used in the most cost-effective manner
