**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha (No. 1112) regarding screening and vaccination efforts for cervical cancer among girls, addressed to the Minister of Health and Family Welfare. The question was scheduled to be answered on December 5, 2025. The answer clarifies that health is a State subject, and the Ministry focuses on awareness and capacity building rather than direct screening or free vaccination programs for school-going girls.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **State Subject:** Health is primarily the responsibility of individual states.
* **Preventive Measures:**
* Cancer prevention is strengthened under Comprehensive Primary Health Care via Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) through wellness activities and communication.
* Initiatives to raise public awareness about Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including cervical cancer, through various media channels and observation of National and World Cancer Days.
* **Financial Support:**
* Under the National Health Mission (NHM), funds are provided to States and Union Territories for awareness generation activities, as per their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).
* **Cervical Cancer Screening:**
* A population-based initiative screens, manages, and prevents common NCDs, including cervical cancer, through the NHM via AAM.
* Screening using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is targeted at women aged 30-65, once every five years, primarily at public health facilities, by trained health workers.
* **Vaccination Program:**
* The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has initiated capacity-building exercises for medical and paramedical staff related to cervical cancer vaccines.
**Impact Analysis**
**States & Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the implementation of health programs and awareness campaigns.
* **Action Required:** Utilize NHM funds for awareness generation activities based on their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).
**Healthcare Professionals (Medical & Paramedical Staff)**
* **Impact:** Play a key role in screening and administering vaccines.
* **Action Required:** Participate in capacity-building exercises related to cervical cancer vaccines.
**Women Aged 30-65**
* **Impact:** Target group for cervical cancer screening.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) screening program at public health facilities every five years.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy and programs.
National Health Mission (NHM): A government program providing funds to States and Union Territories for awareness generation activities.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM): A program strengthening preventive aspects of cancer through wellness activities and targeted communication.
Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Diseases, including cervical cancer, for which public awareness is being increased.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1112
TOBE ANSWERED ON 5TH DECEMBER, 2025
SCREENING OFCERVICALCANCER AMONG GIRLS
1112 SHRI HARIBHAI PATEL:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government is conducting any screening for cervical cancer-related problems
amongschool-going girlsduring the last three years;
(b) if so, the detailsthereof,district-wise andState-wise;
(c) whether the Government is conducting vaccination drive for cervical cancer and if so, the
detailsthereof;
(d) the outcomesof the said vaccination scheme during the last three years; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to provide vaccine for cervical cancer free of cost to
school-going girlstoprevent cervical cancerandif so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE INTHE MINISTRYOFHEALTH ANDFAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) & (b): Health is a State subject. However, preventive aspect of Cancer is strengthened under
Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) by promotion
of wellness activities and targeted communication at the community level. Other initiatives for
increasing public awareness about Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including cervical
cancer and Promotion of healthy lifestyle includes observation of National Cancer Awareness
Day andWorld Cancer Day & use of print,electronic andsocial media for continued community
awareness. Under National Health Mission (NHM), funds are provided to States & Union
Territories for awareness generation activities as per their Programme Implementation Plans
(PIPs).A population-based initiative for screening, management and prevention of common Non
Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including cervical cancer has been rolled out as a part of
comprehensive Primary HealthCare inthe countryunderNHM through AAM. The screening for
cervical cancer targets women aged between 30 to 65 years, and is primarily conducted using
Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), once in five years at public health facilities including
AAM -Sub-HealthCentres, AAM- PrimaryHealthCentres bytrainedhealthworkers.
(c) to (e): The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has initiated capacity-building exercise of
medicalandparamedical stafffor the cervical cancervaccine.
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