LAHORE: Punjab Caretaker Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr. Jamal Nasir said on Wednesday that the provincial government was considering the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into a routine immunization schedule.
Citing global statistics, he underlined the urgency of the purpose, saying that cervical cancer ranks as the third leading cause of cancers in women in Pakistan.
The EPI Steering Committee, comprising top experts, discussed the initiative, stressing the need for data collection to inform evidence-based decisions.
A Technical Working Group will be established to develop a Cancer Registry, focusing on access, surveillance, and demand.
The minister emphasized on the significance of achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.4, aiming for a 30% reduction in cervical cancer mortality by 2030 through the full vaccination of 90% of girls by fifteen years of age.
Vaccine May be Introduced by 2025
The proposed timeline suggests the vaccine could be introduced in the province by 2025, pending credible evidence collected by the Technical Working Group.
The committee meeting presided over by Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Ilyas Gondal, witnessed the participation of prominent figures from the medical community.
