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27 Apr 2010
Question No: 369
Question
Name of the Person: Dr Lam Pin Min
To ask the Minister for Health (a) what is the prevalence of cervical cancer in Singapore; (b) what is the current screening programme available and its take up rate; and (c) whether there is a need for a national vaccination programme against such cancers.
Reply
Reply From MOH
Our age-standardised incidence rate of cervical cancer has been dropping steadily, especially in the last decade. The latest available data for the period 2003-2007 reported a rate of 8.8 per 100,000 women per year. 10 years ago, it was 10.6 and 20 years ago, 15.1 per 100,000 women.
Survival of these patients has also improved over the years. The 5-year age standardised relative survival rate was 65% for the 1998-2002 cohort of patients. It was less than 50% in the 1970s and 80s. Our survival rates are comparable to that of other developed countries.
Cervical cancer is treatable, especially if detected early. Pap smear screening is the main prevention measure. We have a national cervical cancer screening programme for all married women to go for Pap smears once every 3 years. Pap smear screening is easily available in GP clinics, polyclinics and hospitals. We have recently also launched a Pap smear screening bus to bring this service to the housing estates.
3 in 4 women (74%) aged 25 to 69 years had undergone a Pap smear test, with 6 in 10 (59%) within the past three years. We will continue to promote it.
Vaccines against two strains of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are now available. They are effective against these strains, but there are other strains that can cause cervical cancer. Vaccination, therefore, does not eliminate the need for regular Pap smear screening.
Our Expert Committee on Immunisation has recommended that young girls should be vaccinated against HPV. However, it has not recommended compulsory vaccination.