Nationwide HPV Vaccination Drive a Milestone in Public Health, Says Former ICMR Director General

V. M. Katoch, former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research and former Health Research Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has hailed the nationwide rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as a landmark step in India’s public health journey. He described its inclusion in the national immunisation programme as visionary and transformative, noting that it would significantly strengthen efforts to combat cervical cancer—one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Indian women. Emphasising that HPV infection is a major cause of cervical cancer, he said the disease remains a serious threat, particularly to women in their young and middle years.

Katoch underscored that cervical cancer is preventable and that vaccination is among the most effective tools available. Though India approved the HPV vaccine nearly two decades ago, access remained largely limited to private healthcare, IANS reported.

With its inclusion in the national programme, he said, the vaccine will now reach vulnerable and economically disadvantaged girls. Citing its proven global safety and effectiveness, he expressed confidence that sustained implementation could eventually eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat in India.