India could miss global targets to eliminate cervical cancer unless it significantly improves HPV vaccination and screening coverage, according to a new analysis published in The Lancet. The warning comes at a critical time, as the country has only recently rolled out a national HPV vaccination campaign for adolescent girls.
The study suggests that while several high-income countries are on track to eliminate cervical cancer by around 2050 through aggressive vaccination and screening programmes, many low- and middle-income nations, including India, may continue to see high disease burden for decades.
'Second most common cancer among women'
Cervical cancer remains one of the biggest cancer killers among Indian women. India accounts for nearly one-fifth of the world’s cervical cancer cases, recording around 1.23 lakh new cases and about 80,000 deaths every year, according to government and global health estimates. It is currently the second most common cancer among women in the country.
Researchers behind the study modelled different scenarios using current vaccination and screening trends. They found that countries with strong uptake of HPV vaccination, routine cervical screening, and timely treatment could dramatically reduce cases over the next few decades. However, countries with poor coverage risk widening health inequalities, with preventable deaths continuing to rise.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a global target to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. Its strategy aims for 90 per cent of girls to be vaccinated against HPV by age 15, 70 per cent of women to be screened by age 35 and again by age 45, and 90 per cent of women with pre-cancer or cancer to receive treatment.
Experts say India is currently far from these benchmarks. The Centre launched a nationwide HPV vaccination drive for girls aged 9 to 14 earlier this year, calling it a major public health milestone. But uptake has remained slow in several states.
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As per government data cited in reports, only a small percentage of eligible girls had received their doses in the first phase of the rollout. Public health experts attribute the low uptake to limited awareness, vaccine hesitancy, lack of school-based mobilisation, misinformation on social media, and inadequate communication campaigns.
“Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that is largely preventable, yet thousands of Indian women continue to die because screening and vaccination are still not reaching enough people,” said Dr Swarupa Mitra, Director and Unit Head, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, New Delhi. She added, “For the first time, we have the scale, the science, and the policy alignment to tackle cervical cancer head-on. This is not just a vaccination drive, it is India’s best shot at eliminating a major cancer burden within a generation,” she said.
The human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, is responsible for the vast majority of cervical cancer cases. Vaccines against HPV are considered highly effective in preventing infections caused by high-risk strains linked to cancer.
Public health researchers note that India’s challenge is not only vaccination but also screening. Cervical cancer screening rates in the country remain extremely low, especially in rural and underserved areas. Many women are diagnosed only in advanced stages, when treatment becomes more difficult and expensive.
The Lancet study noted that if countries with low coverage rapidly improve vaccination and screening, millions of future cancer cases could still be prevented. According to researchers, reaching WHO targets could avert tens of millions of cervical cancer cases globally over the next century.
Brecht Vanneste, Managing Director, MSD India region, said, “Cervical cancer awareness and early consultation are a critical public health priority. Raising awareness about HPV and preventive healthcare can significantly improve long‑term health outcomes for women."
'Awareness is the key'
India has the opportunity to change the trajectory of cervical cancer deaths, but the next few years are crucial, say gynaecologists. Without large-scale awareness and easier access to screening and vaccines, elimination goals may remain out of reach.
Actress Madhuri Dixit Nene recently participated in a cervical cancer awareness initiative. She said, “Women often put their own health last while taking care of everyone else. Women’s health deserves attention, priority, and open conversations. Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers where awareness and informed discussion play an important role. Through this initiative, I hope more women and families feel empowered to speak with their doctors about cervical cancer and appropriate preventive healthcare. Speaking with a doctor is an act of self-care, and it should never be postponed.”
Health experts are also calling for stronger integration of HPV vaccination into school health programmes, community outreach initiatives, and adolescent healthcare services. Some are advocating gender-neutral vaccination strategies that include boys as well, a move already adopted by several countries.
The study also highlights how newer approaches, including single-dose HPV vaccines, low-cost vaccination options, and improved screening technologies, could help low- and middle-income countries accelerate progress if backed by political commitment and sustained funding.
For India, experts say the message is clear: the science to prevent cervical cancer already exists, but implementation gaps could determine whether the country succeeds in eliminating one of its most preventable cancers or continues to bear one of the world’s heaviest burdens.