To eradicate cervical cancer in India, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Cervical cancer is a preventable disease, yet it claims the lives of over 77,000 Indian women annually; accounting for 25% of global cervical cancer deaths. The HPV vaccine, proven to be highly effective, is a key strategy to eliminate this public health threat by immunising 90% of young girls aged nine-14 years.

The partnership was announced at the All India Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology conference. The initiative, supported by the Cancer Foundation of India and the American Cancer Society, aims to eliminate cervical cancer through widespread HPV vaccination and public health education.

Building on FOGSI’s achievement of training over 10,000 members in 2024, this initiative seeks to empower IMA – the largest medical society in India – with evidence-based guidelines and practical strategies to recommend HPV vaccination confidently.

Under the one-year training programme, FOGSI faculty will train 50,000 IMA physicians, including general practitioners, gynaecologists and paediatricians across tier 2, 3 and 4 cities.

Dr Dilip Bhanushali, national president of IMA, said by equipping physicians with accurate knowledge, one can bridge awareness gaps and enhance HPV vaccine uptake. “Advocating for the HPV vaccination is a personal mission to protect future generations of Indian girls from cervical cancer,” he said.

Dr Priya Ganesh Kumar, national convenor of FOGSI’s HPV programme, said, “India needs more physicians to advocate for HPV vaccination—one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer.”

The programme aligns with the Centre’s plan to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer by addressing vaccine hesitancy and promoting HPV vaccination, which has been included in the universal immunisation programme.