Screening

In December 2024, the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) announced changes in the cervical cancer screening program starting from January 1, 2025. The key change is that in people aged 30 to 64 years, an HPV (Human Papillomavirus) test will be the primary for cervical cancer screening instead of a cytological examination. For this age group, HPV tests will be reimbursed every five years.

On November 28, 2024, the updated version of the Finnish Laboratory Tests Nomenclature was published by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) to come into force on January 1, 2025. Six new codes were introduced.

On December 4, 2024, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) launched a consultation on whether to offer human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling option to under-screened people in the cervical cancer screening program alongside traditional clinician-collected sampling by a nurse or doctor. The deadline for comments submission is February 26, 2025.

On December 2, 2024, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health published the changes that will occur to the Healthcare Benefit Ordinance (KLV/OPre), which determines coverage of medical services in Switzerland. The updates will enter into force on January 1, 2025, and they relate to the list of explicitly evaluated services (Annex 1 of KLV/OPre), outpatient-before-hospital services (Annex 1a), List of Tools and Equipment (Annex 2), and the List of Analyses (Annex 3).

In late October 2024, the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariff System (AOTMiT) published several recommendations concerning the Prenatal Testing Program, specifically on removing alpha-fetoprotein and estriol testing and qualifying the placental growth factor (PlGF) test and free fetal DNA testing (cffDNA) as part of non-invasive prenatal diagnostics.

On August 3, 2024, the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Solidarity published an Order in the Official Journal of the French Republic modifying the national neonatal screening program using laboratory examinations. Starting November 1, 2024, all newborns will be screened for sickle cell disease. Other modifications include organizational changes and modifications related to the timing of blood sample collection.

On August 2, 2024, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published a report presenting the program for evaluating targeted high-throughput sequencing procedures. The program defined indications for which the technology will be evaluated with a view to its transitioning to regular reimbursement under the Statutory Health

On July 1, 2024, the annual call for proposals to the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) was launched. During the call, stakeholders can propose potential new screening topics or modifications of existing screening programs. The deadline for applications is September 30, 2024.

In July 2024, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) released an annual report from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. The report provides a summary of the Committee’s ongoing work and accomplishments, including recommendations regarding the introduction of national population screening programs.

On July 12, 2024, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) announced a new task group for multi-cancer detection (MCD) tests. The group will review different methods for the evaluation of MCDs, from which UK NSC is expected to derive a position statement and develop a roadmap for a possible MCD screening program.

On June 26, 2024, the Norwegian Directorate of Health published its proposal to change the process of including new diseases in newborn screening. The key objective is making the process more dynamic, which requires regulatory and administrative amendments.

On July 1, 2024, the annual call for proposals to the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) was launched. During the call, stakeholders can propose potential new screening topics or modifications of existing screening programs. The deadline for applications is September 30, 2024.