Despite proven tools to eliminate cervical cancer, gaps in access, implementation and prioritisation mean too many women across Asia Pacific are still diagnosed too late.
Across Asia Pacific, cervical cancer remains one of the most common, and most preventable,causes of cancer-related death among women. Yet the region continues to account for a disproportionate share of global mortality from the disease. This disconnect between medical possibility and real-world outcomes highlights a more complex reality: while the science to prevent cervical cancer is well established, progress depends on a combination of effective systems, sustained investment, community engagement and political will.
A disproportionate regional burden
An Economist Impact analysis commissioned by the Asia Pacific Women’s Cancer Coalition and supported by Roche found that Asia Pacific accounts for approximately 58% of cervical cancer deaths worldwide. While population size is a factor, the data points to persistent gaps in prevention, particularly in HPV vaccination coverage, screening uptake and timely treatment.
Across the region, women are too often diagnosed at later stages of disease. In higher-income markets, screening programmes may exist but are inconsistently accessed or followed up. In lower- and middle-income settings, services may be fragmented, under-resourced or concentrated in urban centres. Social stigma, fear and limited awareness further suppress demand for screening, even where services are available.
Why cervical cancer is different
Cervical cancer stands apart from many other cancers because it is almost entirely preventable. Persistent infection with high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause, making elimination possible through vaccination, screening and early treatment.
The World Health Organization’s Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination sets out a clear pathway: vaccinate 90% of girls against HPV by age 15, screen 70% of women with a high-performance test by ages 35 and 45, and treat 90% of women identified with cervical disease. Achieving these targets could reduce incidence to fewer than four cases per 100,000 women, effectively making cervical cancer a rare disease.
For Asia Pacific, this strategy offers both urgency and opportunity. It provides a common framework while allowing countries to adapt delivery models to local health system realities.
The real barriers are structural
The challenge facing Asia Pacific is not whether prevention works, but how it is delivered. Barriers to screening are often practical rather than clinical: distance to healthcare facilities, competing caregiving responsibilities, out-of-pocket costs and fragmented care pathways.
Fear and stigma compound these barriers. In many communities, cancer remains synonymous with fatal outcomes, reinforcing avoidance rather than prevention. Education efforts that emphasise the slow progression of cervical cancer and the effectiveness of early treatment are essential to shifting behaviour.
Equally important is trust. Women are more likely to participate in screening when services are accessible, culturally appropriate and clearly linked to follow-up care. Screening without diagnosis or treatment is not prevention,it is a missed opportunity.
Collaboration as a delivery enabler
Addressing these structural gaps requires coordinated action across sectors. The Asia Pacific Women’s Cancer Coalition was established to bring together organisations working in advocacy, policy, research and implementation, creating a platform for shared learning and collective momentum.
By combining regional data with local insight, coalition partners can identify where systems are breaking down and where targeted interventions can have the greatest impact. This approach helps elevate cervical cancer prevention beyond a single health issue, positioning it as a priority linked to economic participation, workforce stability and social development.
TogetHER for Health, a coalition partner, supports cervical cancer elimination through advocacy, policy engagement and targeted grant-making. Its work illustrates how global ambition can be translated into local action when aligned with strong partnerships and clear evidence.
| What implementation can look like Malaysia’s Program ROSE (Removing Obstacles to Cervical Screening) demonstrates how prevention can be redesigned around women’s needs. By combining community outreach with accessible screening and clear referral pathways, the programme has screened more than 25,000 women across 200 locations. Its success underscores a critical insight: when services are convenient, affordable and trusted, women participate. While no single programme can be universally replicated, Program ROSE offers practical lessons for scaling screening in diverse settings across Asia Pacific. |
The case for action
Cervical cancer elimination is no longer aspirational. The tools exist, the evidence is strong and the global strategy is in place. What remains is the will to prioritise prevention and the discipline to deliver it at scale.
For Asia Pacific, the choice is clear. By strengthening prevention ecosystems, aligning policy with delivery and working collaboratively across sectors, the region can change the trajectory of a disease that should no longer be claiming lives.
What can you do?
Cervical cancer prevention starts with individual action. If you are eligible for screening, make it a priority and encourage the women in your life to do the same. Learn what cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination look like in your country and ask your healthcare provider about the options available to you.
You can also help drive change beyond the clinic. Share credible information, support organisations working to expand access to prevention and early detection, and use your voice to advocate for policies that prioritise women’s health.
By taking action today, you contribute to a future where cervical cancer is no longer a common diagnosis in Asia Pacific, but a preventable disease of the past.
