Women in New Zealand can take part in the programme from the time they turn 20 until they turn 70. More than a million women have chosen to enrol, over 95 percent of all eligible women.

An analysis of the first ten years of the programme found that the incidence of cervical cancer had reduced by 40 percent, and deaths had reduced by 60 percent, since the establishment of the programme in 1990.

The programme organises cervical screening so that:

• women are informed about the importance of having cervical smear tests
• women are offered cervical smear tests on a regular basis
• services are of a high quality and are culturally appropriate
• women with abnormal smears are followed up
• there is regular monitoring to see that the goals of the programme are being met.

Recent changes to the National Cervical Screening Programme

A number of changes aimed at improving the quality, safety and effectiveness of the programme took effect from 7 March 2005. The changes resulted from the passing of the Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Act (2004). Click to see the Ministry of Health media release and background of 3 February 2005.

Making sure the programme is working well

The National Cervical Screening Programme has several systems for checking how well the programme is working.  These systems include:

• an independent monitoring group to assess how well the National Cervical Screening Programme is meeting its indicators and targets.  The Independent Monitoring Group of the National Cervical Screening Programme (IMG-NCSP) makes regular reports to the Ministry of Health and recommendations on possible areas of improvement.  Download copies of these reports.
• quality standards set by the National Cervical Screening Programme.  These are the minimum standards that providers of health services associated with the programme should comply with. Providers that have been contracted by the Ministry of Health for the programme are monitored against these standards. See the section "NCSP Policy and Quality Standards" for further information. 
• Ministry of Health Advisory Groups to advise the National Screening Unit on work undertaken by the programme
• the requirement by law for laboratories to report all smears and biopsy results which show carcinoma in situ (CIN 3) or cervical cancer to the National Cancer Registry
• the audit of screening histories of women who develop invasive cervical cancer
• independent evaluation by appropriately trained and experienced evaluators appointed by the Director-General of Health. Evaluators are able to access the personal health records of women held by other providers under strict rules of confidentiality. This includes women who develop cervical cancer whether or not they are enrolled in the programme
• additional external monitoring by an independent review committee of up to three members appointed by the Minister of Health every three years to monitor quality activities.