[Increase in preventive screening: need for revision of the Dutch 'Wet op het Bevolkingsonderzoek' (Population Screening Act)].
A growing number of institutions offer health checks to the public. These preventive checks have to comply with the Dutch 'Wet op het Bevolkingsonderzoek' (Population Screening Act), in order to protect citizens from harmful investigations and the detection of diseases for which there is no cure. However, for some of the investigations it is not clear whether a license is needed or what diseases may be detected. In addition, institutions are allowed to sell self-tests of prohibited investigations. The Act therefore needs revision. Moreover the 'Kwaliteitswet Zorginstellingen' (Care Institutions Quality Act) should also apply to institutions that offer preventive investigations so as to ensure that unwarranted screening is no longer possible.
Reulings
P G J
PG
Inspectie voor de Gezondheidszorg, Postbus 20.584, 1001 NN Amsterdam. pg.reulings@igz.nl
van Wijngaarden
J K
JK
van der Wal
G
G
D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D009426:Netherlands; D011159:Population Surveillance