Tens of thousands of doctors across India are undergoing training to promote the HPV vaccine as part of a nationwide push to eliminate cervical cancer. The initiative aims to educate communities, counter vaccine misinformation, and make the HPV vaccine more accessible, especially in rural and underserved areas. One in five cervical cancer cases worldwide occurs in India, with the majority linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Although the HPV vaccine has been available privately in India since 2008, uptake has been low, partly due to its high cost and misinformation surrounding its safety. However, the recent production of an affordable domestic version of the vaccine by the Serum Institute India has created new opportunities. The government is expected to incorporate the vaccine into the national vaccination program later this year or early next year.

To combat the rising cancer rates, organizations like the Cancer Foundation of India and the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (Fogsi) are training doctors on the benefits of vaccination and how to address public concerns. Last year, 11,000 medical professionals were trained, with 100 now serving as the National HPV Faculty to reach 500 general physicians each.

Dr. Priya Ganeshkumar, a key figure in the initiative, emphasized the role of gynaecologists in educating families and highlighted the urgency of the matter. “Every seven to eight minutes, a woman in India dies from cervical cancer, which is preventable,” she said.

The HPV vaccine could significantly reduce the incidence of cervical cancer, offering a beacon of hope for millions of women in India, where the disease remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths.