Review of the prostate cancer screening pilot scheme in the Basque Country, led by Biosistemak

This programme forms part of the European EUCanScreen project, which aims to implement new cancer screening strategies.

In September 2025, the prostate cancer screening pilot project began in the Basque Country, one of the key initiatives of the European EUCanScreen project, aimed at strengthening and harmonising cancer screening programmes across the European Union. Now, six months after its launch, we are taking stock of its progress and the advances made during this period at the OSI Bilbao-Basurto, in collaboration with Biosistemak, Osakidetza and the Department of Health.

Since the start of the pilot, 5,300 men have been invited to participate, out of a total of 10,000 eligible men. As of March 2026, the participation rate stands at 40%, with an 11.5% positivity rate in the PSA test and the detection of 10 prostate cancers. These initial results enable an analysis of the feasibility and potential impact of a future population-based screening programme.

Evidence, analysis and evaluation

Over the past few months, Biosistemak has developed various technical and methodological approaches that underpin both the pilot study and the European project as a whole. These include the harmonisation of screening data at European level, the development of frameworks and protocols to move towards risk-based screening, the generation of evidence on the application of artificial intelligence to the analysis of interval cancers, and calibrated multi-cancer modelling for six types of cancer, incorporating specific adaptations for the Basque population. Work is also continuing on the evaluation of health technologies to optimise potential future screening programmes.

These initiatives generate useful knowledge for decision-making and help move towards more accurate, efficient and equitable early detection models.

Implementation and strategic vision

Osakidetza maintains operational leadership of the pilot, managing the identification of the target population, invitations, the performance of diagnostic tests and care pathways. Its track record in other established programmes, such as those for breast or colorectal cancer, is fundamental for assessing the resources and processes required for a possible future roll-out of prostate screening.

For its part, the Department of Health provides the strategic and planning vision, analysing the pilot’s impact on the healthcare system and its alignment with the Basque Country’s public health priorities.

A step forward in improving early detection

EUCanScreen, with a budget of €38 million and the participation of 29 countries, works to promote high-quality screening programmes and reduce inequalities in Europe.

The Basque Country’s contribution, through the joint work of Biosistemak, Osakidetza and the Department of Health, helps build the evidence needed to assess potential prostate screening based on the best available evidence. This progress reinforces the Basque Country’s role as a leading region in innovation, evaluation and applied research in screening programmes.