Cervical Cancer Screening and HPV Vaccination in Nepal.

Abstract

Cervical cancer screening is still an opportunistic mode of procedure. Conventional pap smear was the first method used for long, then the visual method introduced in practice. However, it has been limited to the mid-level paramedics with lesser priority in facility level. Specialist service providers put more effort on newer methods like liquid-based cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing but without feasible and affordable system in place. Cervical cancer prevention and control program is in place from the Department of Health Services but still the implementation part is poor. Systematic approach is being followed if the screening is a part of research or thesis from academia. Screening and treatment of invasive lesions are not linked yet in practice because of poor implementation of public– private partnership considering a huge magnitude of service from private sector.