India has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem and strengthening global health cooperation during a press briefing held at the headquarters of the World Health Organization on 5 March 2026.
Addressing the briefing virtually, Jagat Prakash Nadda outlined India’s comprehensive strategy to combat cervical cancer through prevention, screening, early detection and timely treatment. The health minister emphasised that protecting the health and dignity of women remains a central priority of the country’s public health policy.
Jagat Prakash Nadda noted that cervical cancer continues to pose a significant global health challenge and remains a serious concern in India. To address the disease effectively, the Government of India has adopted a multi pronged approach that integrates large scale screening, vaccination programmes and improved access to treatment services.
A key component of India’s strategy is the expansion of population based screening under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases. Screening for cervical cancer using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid is now available at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and other health facilities across the country for women between the ages of 30 and 65 years.
According to the health minister, more than 86 million women have already been screened for cervical cancer under this national programme. The large scale screening effort is aimed at enabling early detection of precancerous conditions and ensuring timely medical intervention.
Jagat Prakash Nadda also highlighted the launch of India’s nationwide Human Papillomavirus vaccination campaign as a major milestone in the country’s fight against cervical cancer. The campaign was launched on 28 February 2026 by Narendra Modi and targets 12 million girls aged 14 years as part of a nationwide preventive health initiative.
The vaccination drive is being implemented over a period of 90 days and follows a single dose schedule using the Gardasil Quadrivalent vaccine, in line with recommendations from the World Health Organization and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization. The vaccine is being administered free of cost at government health facilities across the country.
The minister stated that the programme is rooted in voluntary participation and parental consent, reflecting India’s emphasis on respecting community values and family autonomy in public health initiatives. The campaign also aligns with the national vision of promoting women’s health and empowerment.
Digital technologies are playing a key role in the implementation of the vaccination drive. Each vaccination event is recorded through the U WIN digital immunisation platform, enabling real time monitoring and transparent data tracking. Vaccine stocks and cold chain logistics are monitored through the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network to ensure efficient supply management.
Jagat Prakash Nadda acknowledged the crucial contribution of frontline health workers in implementing the programme. Their role in community outreach, awareness generation and vaccination delivery has been central to the success of India’s large scale health initiatives.
Reaffirming India’s global commitment, the health minister stated that the country fully supports the World Health Organization’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer. The strategy is based on the 90 70 90 targets for 2030, which aim to ensure that 90 percent of girls receive HPV vaccination, 70 percent of women undergo cervical cancer screening and 90 percent of women diagnosed with cervical disease receive appropriate treatment.
Addressing the same briefing, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization, highlighted several global public health challenges including obesity, HIV AIDS and cervical cancer. He emphasised the importance of international cooperation, innovation and sustained public health investment to address these challenges.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised India’s large scale HPV vaccination initiative and described it as the world’s largest free HPV vaccination drive. He noted that the programme will vaccinate approximately 12 million adolescent girls annually, representing a major step toward protecting future generations from cervical cancer.
Highlighting the burden of the disease, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that more than 80,000 women die from cervical cancer in India each year and around 42,000 new cases are reported annually. He emphasised that preventive interventions such as vaccination and early screening are essential to reduce the disease burden.
The World Health Organization reaffirmed its continued support for countries undertaking major public health initiatives to eliminate cervical cancer and improve women’s health outcomes.
Aaron Motsoaledi, Health Minister of South Africa, also participated virtually in the briefing and congratulated India on launching its nationwide HPV vaccination campaign.
The discussions at the World Health Organization highlighted the growing importance of coordinated global action, technological innovation and large scale public health programmes in achieving the long term goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a major public health threat.
