Promoting Quality of Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment in India

Cervical cancer screening is highly cost effective, feasible, and culturally acceptable in higher and lower income settings across the world. According to the World Health Organization and the World Economic Forum, screening for cervical cancer is an evidence-based ?best buy? prevention intervention (1). However, to be effective in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality, screening programs must be of high quality. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India. In 2010, nearly 74,000 Indian women were newly diagnosed with the disease and 34,000 women died (2). Recognizing the challenge of cervical cancer in India, the World Bank published a review of research on cervical cancer prevention and implementation experiences of cervical cancer screening programs in the country (3). The review found that program effectiveness depends on the quality of screening interventions. Cervical cancer screening programs are effective when they achieve high coverage of the target population, ensure high rates of follow-up of women who screen positive, and provide services consistent with established standards and guidelines. Screening program quality, shaped by several factors described below, influences these outcomes.