{"id":246381,"date":"2026-09-23T20:38:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T18:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/efecomunica.efe.com\/?p=246381"},"modified":"2026-09-24T09:13:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T07:13:57","slug":"roche-diagnostics-paho-promote-hpv-screening-to-prevent-cervical-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/efecomunica.efe.com\/en\/roche-diagnostics-paho-promote-hpv-screening-to-prevent-cervical-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Roche Diagnostics, PAHO promote HPV screening to prevent cervical cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Roche Diagnostics<\/strong> and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)<\/strong> have signed an agreement to accelerate access to integrated DNA screening solutions for human papillomavirus (HPV) in Latin America and the Caribbean<\/strong>, a disease cited as the primary cause of cervical cancer.<\/p>\n

According to Roche, the agreement is designed to help countries strengthen HPV DNA screening programs<\/strong> and advance the goals of PAHO’s Plan of Action for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control 2018-2030, as well as the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global strategy to eliminate the disease as a public health problem.<\/p>\n

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer<\/strong>. However, Latin America and the Caribbean record the second-highest incidence and mortality rates<\/strong> in the world after Africa, according to the “A Situational Analysis of Cervical Cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean” report published by PAHO and WHO.<\/p>\n

The report indicates that Latin America and the Caribbean register an age-adjusted incidence rate of 15.1 cases per 100,000 women<\/strong>, compared to the WHO elimination threshold set at four cases per 100,000 women.<\/p>\n

Screening allows for the identification of women at higher risk<\/strong> and the detection of precancerous lesions to treat them before they progress to invasive cancer.<\/p>\n

Roche Diagnostics for Latin America President Jordi Fern\u00e1ndez Capo<\/strong> noted that by working with PAHO and healthcare ecosystem partners, they have “the opportunity to implement essential screening programs that identify more women at risk and connect them with appropriate follow-up and care, when necessary.”<\/p>\n

Likewise, he maintained that “supporting stronger, more integrated screening systems equipped with high-performance molecular platforms can help more women access early, accurate detection and the care they need when it can make the greatest difference.”<\/p>\n

WHO agreement details and projections<\/h3>\n

The agreement will be implemented through PAHO\u2019s Regional Revolving Funds<\/strong>, a cooperation mechanism to improve access to health innovations.<\/p>\n

Through this mechanism, Roche Diagnostics will help facilitate the supply of HPV DNA screening solutions and other related diagnostic innovations.<\/p>\n

According to the ESTAMPA study, led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of WHO, alongside PAHO, HPV tests detect 98.1% of high-grade cervical lesions<\/strong>, compared to 48.5% detected by other methods such as Pap smears (cervical cytology).<\/p>\n

In this context, expanding access to these screening approaches requires robust and integrated diagnostic infrastructure<\/strong>, including high-throughput molecular platforms that support quality and continuity throughout the screening pathway.<\/p>\n

The progression from HPV infection to cervical cancer is typically slow and can take decades. In its early stages, HPV generally causes no symptoms, leaving many women unaware they carry the infection until signs appear and cancer may have already begun to develop.<\/p>\n

In response, Roche Diagnostics will contribute its diagnostic expertise and network of local and international collaborators to strengthen screening pathways and advance the elimination of this cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The WHO Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination establishes the 90-70-90 targets for 2030<\/strong>: Vaccinate 90% of girls against HPV by age 15; Screen 70% of women with a high-performance test by age 35 and again by age 45; Treat 90% of women identified with precancerous lesions and 90% of those with invasive cancer.<\/p>\n

According to WHO estimates, achieving the 90-70-90 targets in low- and lower-middle-income countries would cumulatively prevent approximately 300,000 cervical cancer deaths by 2030,<\/strong> over 14 million by 2070, and more than 62 million by 2120. EFE<\/p>\n