Cervical cancer screening in Sri Lanka expands as 18 new Colposcopy machines are added to hospitals for earlier detection and treatment.
Cervical cancer screening in Sri Lanka is set to expand after the Ministry of Health moved to add 18 state-of-the-art Colposcopy machines to the government hospital system for early detection and more efficient treatment.
The Ministry said the move is aimed at improving care for cervical cancer, which ranks fifth among the most common cancers affecting women in Sri Lanka.
Under the program, 12 machines have already been supplied to hospitals this year for the well-being of patients. Arrangements are now being made to install the remaining six machines within the coming month, the Ministry of Health and Media stated.
More than Rs. 72 million has been spent on the project, with each machine costing approximately Rs. 600,000.
At present, the modern medical devices have been successfully installed in major hospitals across several districts, including Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kurunegala, Kandy, Gampaha, Monaragala, Puttalam, Hambantota, Matara Teaching Hospital, and the De Soysa Women’s Hospital in Colombo.
Plans are also underway to install the remaining six Colposcopy machines by next June at teaching and district general hospitals in Ampara, Ragama, Kalutara, Kuliyapitiya, Matale, and Vavuniya.
More than Rs. 42 million has been allocated for these remaining machines.
Authorities have also taken steps to replace five old Colposcopy machines previously used in the government hospital sector with five modern machines.
Once all the new equipment is installed, the total number of Colposcopy machines available in the government hospital system for cervical cancer screening and treatment will rise to 33.
The Ministry of Health said its main objective is to provide essential medical services closer to patients across the island.
Colposcopy is a specialized medical procedure used to accurately examine abnormalities in the cervix and vagina of women.
According to the National Cancer Control Programme, cervical cancer is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV, and can be completely prevented if detected at the pre-cancerous stage.
The latest data from the National Cancer Control Programme shows that around 1,200 new cervical cancer patients are detected each year in Sri Lanka.
Due to lack of proper awareness and timely access to suitable treatment, nearly 180 patients die annually.
