National Screening Advisory Committee

The role of NSAC is to:

• provide leadership and strategic direction for national population based screening programmes
• make evidence based recommendations about the case for implementing new population screening programmes, including consideration of their effectiveness, feasibility, likely harms and benefits, value for money, and impact on the health system
• identify screening technologies of proven effectiveness which require central agency led and well-managed implementation as national screening or quality improvement programmes
• advise whether to continue, modify or withdraw existing population screening programmes, particularly those programmes inadequately evaluated or of doubtful effectiveness, quality, or value
• consider and endorse major changes within current screening programmes as raised by NSU advisory groups
• consult and liaise with clinical leaders and experts on screening to obtain sound advice, referring appropriate issues for further research and commissioning evidence based review as NSU resources allow
• undertake a horizon scanning function to provide guidance on emerging and future technologies suitable for population screening programmes.

The Committee is multidisciplinary with members chosen for their linkages to other health or academic groups as well as their individual skills, for example, expertise in public health, screening programmes, epidemiology, ethics and health economics.