New Delhi: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Thursday reaffirmed India’s commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem while virtually addressing a press briefing at the World Health Organization (WHO) Headquarters.
Highlighting India’s strategy to combat the disease, Nadda said the Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach focused on prevention, screening, early detection and timely treatment.
He said cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge globally and in India, and stressed that the health and dignity of women continue to be a national priority.
The minister noted that population-based screening under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) has been expanded as part of comprehensive primary healthcare services.
Screening for cervical cancer through Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is now available at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and other health facilities for women aged 30–65 years, he said, adding that over 86 million women have been screened under the programme so far.
Nadda also highlighted the nationwide launch of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 28, aimed at protecting adolescent girls from cervical cancer.
The campaign targets 12 million girls aged 14 years and is being implemented over a 90-day period with a single-dose schedule using the Gardasil Quadrivalent vaccine, following recommendations of the WHO and India’s National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).
The vaccine is being administered free of cost at government health facilities, he said.
Nadda stressed that the vaccination drive is based on voluntary participation and parental consent, reflecting India’s respect for community values and family autonomy.
He also highlighted the use of digital technology to monitor the programme. Vaccination events are recorded on the U-WIN digital immunisation platform, while vaccine stocks and cold-chain logistics are tracked through the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) system.
The minister acknowledged the role of frontline health workers in reaching communities and building public trust to ensure the success of the campaign.
Reaffirming India’s global commitment, Nadda said the country supports the WHO Global Strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, including the 90-70-90 targets for 2030, which aim for 90% HPV vaccination coverage among girls, 70% screening coverage among women, and treatment for 90% of women diagnosed with cervical disease.
Speaking at the briefing, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised India’s efforts and described the nationwide HPV vaccination initiative as the world’s largest free HPV vaccination drive.
He noted that around 12 million adolescent girls are expected to be vaccinated annually, calling it a landmark step toward eliminating cervical cancer.
Highlighting the disease burden, Dr. Tedros said over 80,000 women die of cervical cancer in India each year, with around 42,000 new cases reported annually, underscoring the importance of preventive interventions such as vaccination and screening.
He reaffirmed the WHO’s support for countries undertaking large-scale initiatives to eliminate cervical cancer and strengthen women’s health.
South African Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi also joined the virtual briefing and congratulated India on launching the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign.
