Cervical cancer: Govt aims to replace pap smear with HPV testing by 2023
PARLIAMENT | The government is pushing to replace pap smear tests with HPV tests for cervical cancer detection by the year 2023, said Deputy Health Minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
Noor Azmi (above) said a pilot project using HPV tests had been launched in four states – Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan and Kedah – since Sept 2019 and the results have been encouraging...
PARLIAMENT | The government is pushing to replace pap smear tests with HPV tests for cervical cancer detection by the year 2023, said Deputy Health Minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
Noor Azmi (above) said a pilot project using HPV tests had been launched in four states – Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan and Kedah – since Sept 2019 and the results have been encouraging.
“We find that 60 percent of Malaysian women did not do pap smear testing in the last three years and we are worried about them.
“I think the problem now is that, according to the information I have received, the pap smear test is uncomfortable and many women are embarrassed or scared and maybe some do not care.
“But this HPV test, which they can conduct themselves, is not painful, easy and it is not scary,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat during the question-and-answer session today.
Noor Azmi was responding to a question by June Leow (Harapan-Hulu Selangor) who had asked about the feasibility of preparing pap smear tests to all women eligible under the Peka B40 programme.
He brought an HPV test kit and showed to the Dewan Rakyat how it looked like, that is a long cotton swab in a tube.
Women can conduct the test themselves, with some guidance, Noor Azmi said.
“We will carry on with our pilot project and the government’s hope is to continue efforts to replace cervical cancer detection with HPV tests by 2023.
“I hope all our women, as well as husbands who can advise their wives, will be more aware of this matter because cancer can kill our future,” he added.
With regard to pap smear tests, Noor Azmi said it was not included in the Peka B40 programme as the priority was placed on breast cancer detection.
There are also various agencies in the country which conduct pap smear tests for the population, including the Health Ministry, at very low prices, he added.
