Parliament Question: Free vaccine for cervical cancer in the country

GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE RAJYASABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1226 TO BE ANSWERED ON10th FEBRUARY,2026 FREEVACCINEFORCERVICALCANCER INTHE COUNTRY 1226.SHRISANJAYKUMAR JHA Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleasedtostate: (a)whether it isa factthat in2020,CervicalCancerwas the second-most commoncancer amongwomen inthe country, bothincidence(18.3percent) andcancermortality (18.7percent)with a five-year prevalenceof 18.8percent; (b) if so, whether it ispossible for the Ministry toframe a policytoprovide free cervical cancervaccineto girls/women aged9to14yearsinallStates/UTs of the country; and (c)if so, bywhen such a policyintervention would be framedandimplemented? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE INTHE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) Yes. (b) & (c) Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is not a part of the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has initiated the capacity building exercise of medical and para medical staff for the cervical cancervaccine. ****