Current status and future direction of cervical cancer prevention program in Malaysia

Cervical cancer remains one of the major cancer burdens worldwide particularly in under-developed and developing countries. Cervical cancer continues to have a major impact on women not only physically but also socially and sexually. Cervical cancer affecting one of the most important reproductive organ and many of these patients were from the reproductive age group. Cervical cancer is the second most common women cancer in the world. It was estimated that almost 0.5 million cases of cervical cancer had been reported in the world in 2006 and WHO has estimated almost 300,000 women died every year due to this disease. Approximately 80% of all this cases were reported from developing countries with low resource setting. This article will summarizes recent research on cervical cancer prevention , exploring available preventive measures in particularly related to secondary prevention and studying cervical cancer prevention program implemented worldwide with special interest to countries with low resource setting. Apart from highlighting what is happening in other countries, this article will also review our past and current cervical cancer prevention program in Malaysia. Finally, at the end of this article, based on current evidences from large randomised study and resources that available in our country, we will decide what would be the most appropriate (practical and cost-effective) cervical cancer prevention strategy that we should adopt in order to effectively prevent cervical cancer and at the same time reducing the morbidity and mortality from this disease in future.