Investment in HPV DNA testing and technology to improve the quality of screening in the outreach is also must
Dr. KALPANA APTE,Â
Director General,FPA India.
The Union Budget 2025-2026 should facilitate the required resources for initiating HPV vaccination among eligible young girls under 15 years of age, in India, besides scaling population-based screening for cervical cancer among eligible women, through capacity building of mid-level providers, investment in HPV DNA testing and technology to improve the quality of screening in the outreach.
FPA India, has been actively engaged in promoting public awareness and action to prevent cervical cancer through our ongoing campaign Race To Erase Cervical Cancer.
We have provided over 1000 doses of HPV vaccines and more than 20,000 screenings for cervical cancer since the launch of the campaign in September 2023.
We envisage stepping up the campaign to complement and supplement the e orts of the Government of India towards early diagnosis and complete treatment for improving cervical cancer survival rates.
Budgetary allocation for procurement of HPV vaccines, roll-out of the vaccination drive through a targeted communication campaign, coupled with investment in highly sensitive screening tests and competency-based training of providers in the screen, triage and treat protocols in the public sector, will be a game-changer for improving equity and access to Cervical Cancer prevention in India.
