• UGI USER
  • Aug 03, 2024
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ICMR WARNS OF CERVICAL CANCER CRISIS

Why in the news?

  • The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) highlights an urgent need for increased cervical cancer screening and vaccination.
  • Projected impact: By 2025, cervical cancer will result in a loss of 1.5 million years of life in India, due to early deaths or disabilities.

Current Statistics:

  • In 2016, the burden was 223.8 Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) per 100,000 women.
  • The ICMR’s projection is based on this data, forecasting significant health impacts if no action is taken.

Recommendations and Future Outlook:

  • ICMR calls for expanding screening coverage from 2% to 70% of women.
  • The plan includes scaling up HPV vaccination to 90% coverage and conducting two lifetime screenings, aiming for cervical cancer elimination by 2070.
  • States like Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Nagaland show a higher burden, with DALYs exceeding 300 per 100,000 women.
source:slideshare
About Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR):

  • Established: Originally IRFA in 1911, redesignated ICMR in 1949.

Mandate:

  • Apex body for biomedical research in India.
  • Conducts and coordinates research for societal benefit.
  • Translates innovations into public health solutions.
  • Vision: Improving population health through research.

Structure:

  • Governed by the Union Health Minister.
  • Scientific Advisory Board of experts.
  • Research through 32 national institutes across India.

About Cervical Cancer:

  • Development: Occurs in the cervix; 4th most common cancer among women globally.
  • Cause: 99% linked to high-risk HPV, spread through sexual contact.
  • Strains: HPV types 16 and 18 cause ~70% of cases; 14 oncogenic types identified.
  • Challenges: Lack of awareness, late detection, and limited healthcare access.
  • India: 2nd most common cancer; 2022 saw 1,23,907 new cases and 77,348 deaths.

CERVAVAC :

Description:

  • India’s first indigenously developed quadrivalent HPV vaccine.
  • Targets four virus strains: Type 6, 11, 16, and 18.
  • Based on Virus-Like Particles (VLP), similar to Hepatitis B vaccine.

Significance:

  • Approved by DGCI; enables bulk procurement.
  • Effective before first sexual intercourse.
  • Potential to eliminate cervical cancer; lower cost could support inclusion in Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).

Global Context:

  • Existing vaccines in India: Quadrivalent (Gardasil) and bivalent (Cervarix) are costly and not included in national immunisation programs.