New Delhi, Jan 17 (NationPress) Vaccination against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and enhancing access to DNA-based screening are vital steps towards the elimination of cervical cancer in India, stated officials from the Health Ministry on Saturday.

The officials spoke at India’s first national summit organized by AIIMS to promote the cervical cancer elimination initiative.

Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Managing Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, reiterated the government's steadfast commitment to eradicating cervical cancer as a significant public health concern.

“Eliminating cervical cancer is a reachable objective for India, and we are dedicated to fast-tracking efforts in prevention, screening, and treatment,” Patnaik declared.

“Our emphasis is on swiftly expanding HPV vaccination and enhancing screening at all levels—especially through advanced methods like HPV DNA testing—to guarantee that every woman receives timely diagnosis and treatment. By establishing robust systems, clear operational protocols, and ongoing collaborations among states and stakeholders, we can turn the vision of cervical cancer elimination into reality, thereby protecting the health of millions of women nationwide,” she elaborated.

Prof Dr V.K. Paul, Member (Health) at NITI Aayog, expressed that “India holds a historic chance to eradicate cervical cancer, but this requires urgency, widespread implementation, and cohesive system alignment.”

He emphasized the necessity for evidence-based execution models.

“We need to launch pilot initiatives that showcase how HPV DNA-based screening and self-sampling can be scaled, particularly within primary healthcare systems. These findings will aid India in formulating a national model that guarantees timely screening, precise diagnostics, and seamless follow-up for women everywhere,” Paul added.

The summit, coordinated by the Departments of Radiation Oncology, Surgical Oncology, and Onco-Anaesthesia & Palliative Medicine at DRBRAIRCH, AIIMS, concentrated on three essential pillars.

Beginning with scaling up HPV vaccination to reinforcing screening via high-performance HPV DNA testing, the event aimed at enhancing self-sampling techniques and ensuring effective cancer care.

Additionally, the summit addressed the formulation of standardized national SOPs, establishment of hub-and-spoke care frameworks, and optimization of treatment and follow-up processes to deliver equitable, high-quality care across the nation.

“Cervical cancer cannot be tackled in isolation. Bringing together government, medical professionals, innovators, and patient advocates is crucial to generating the momentum and accountability necessary for enhancing prevention, early detection, and effective treatment,” stated Dr Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at DRBRAIRCH, AIIMS.

“Through this initiative, we aim to outline clear, actionable recommendations that will define India’s strategy for cervical cancer elimination,” he added.

The summit convened over 500 participants, including representatives from various AIIMS campuses, state health departments, cancer institutes, WHO, UNICEF, ICMR, civil society organizations, and industry partners, concluding with a National Call to Action that delineates priority measures to expedite India’s cervical cancer elimination pathway.