Some public health practitioners felt that this is only a public health activity when it is delivered through an organised program such as BreastScreen. Cervical screening is largely delivered through general practice, although, as with immunisation, the delivery of services in the private sector is underpinned by the National Cervical Screening Program (State and Territory recruitment programs, Pap smear registers, follow-up and reminder systems). The question is whether the taking of smears (in general practice) and the reading of smears (in laboratories), which are largely in the private sector, but essential to the implementation of the program, should be considered as public health activities.