Leading medical experts, public and private sector partners, and civil society organizations called for urgent and united action to bring the Philippines in line with global standards on vaccination, screening, and treatment towards cervical cancer elimination (CCE) by 2030.

The CCE Summit held under the banner “One Community Against HPV: Innovations Enabling Cervical Cancer Elimination in the Philippines,” identified clear, science-driven pathways against the deadly human papillomavirus (HPV) to meet the World Health Organization’s standards.

A key focus of the summit was the recently released regional guidance from the Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOFOG), which outlines a tiered set of recommendations to combat the preventable disease, which kills 12 Filipino women every day.

AOFOG is a federation of national societies of obstetrics and gynecology in the Asia-Pacific region, focused on improving women’s health and well-being. AOFOG aims to promote the practice of obstetrics and gynecology, reduce health disparities, and advance women’s health in the region.

Wider vaccination coverage

These include a preferred standard of vaccinating both females and males aged 9 to 26 years, with the option of expanding coverage up to age 45; from a minimum standard of vaccinating girls aged 9 to 14 years.

Broader protection vs HPV

AOFOG emphasized the use of the nonavalent (9vHPV) vaccine in countries where it is accessible due to its broader protection against high-risk HPV strains and its favorable safety profile.

Incidentally, the multi-omics research project from UP Manila funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) presented during the summit also led to the same

recommendation – that use of broader-valent HPV vaccine may be needed to better respond to this evidence on local epidemiology. The study provided local data reinforcing the need for Filipinas to get protected beyond the perceived common HPV types that may lead to cervical cancer.

In the Philippines, nonavalent HPV vaccine is now predominantly used in private vaccination centers and clinics, which protect against other prevalent HPV types solidifying it as the preferred option for primary prevention of cervical cancer in the Philippines.

The evidence aligns closely with AOFOG’s recommendations and serves as a crucial reference to push for a nationwide upgrade in the country’s HPV prevention strategy.

PH on its way to improving CCE interventions

On vaccination, the Philippines’ should be on its way as nonavalent HPV vaccine is also undergoing review by the DOST-Health Technology Assessment (HTA), and with positive recommendation, could also help DOH upgrade its vaccine to the global standards the soonest. HTA has recently released positive recommendation for government financing of HPV DNA test, which is a great jump in improving access of Filipinas to high-performing tests and detect HPV virus early.

Scale up awareness

AOFOG also underscored the need to scale up public education efforts, citing persistent myths and misinformation surrounding HPV and the vaccine. The federation recommends comprehensive education campaigns that span traditional and digital platforms to boost vaccine uptake and reinforce the importance of cervical cancer screening even after vaccination.

Cover other populations at risk

Since HPV has also been linked to other cancers, the AOFOG also emphasized that HPV vaccination should be inclusive and cover other populations at risk who face specific risks that are often overlooked.

Innovations vs HPV

The summit also featured innovations in screening and diagnostics, including the introduction of HPV self-testing kits and AI-enhanced cervical cancer screening technologies. These tools have the potential to significantly improve access and early detection, especially in communities with limited healthcare resources.

Together, these innovations support the achievement of the WHO’s cervical cancer elimination targets: 90% of girls vaccinated by age 15, 70% of women screened by ages 35 and 45, and 90% of women with pre-cancer or invasive cancer receiving appropriate treatment.

Finally, the summit reaffirmed the spirit of the AOFOG Manila Declaration first launched in 2019, calling on the Philippines to renew its commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem.

This initiative is consistent with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and the Magna Carta for Women, both of which emphasize gender-responsive health services, social protection, and equitable access to care throughout the stages of a woman’s life. 

Through data-driven reforms, community engagement, and bold adoption of new technologies, the summit emphasized that cervical cancer is preventable, and that now is the time to act.