Project Summary

Global cervical cancer elimination is achievable by 2030 if sufficient resources can be mobilized, and effectively and equitably used to accelerate implementation and uptake of national programs. The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) engaged ThinkWell to conduct an assessment and stakeholder interviews to examine the status of health financing for cervical cancer elimination in four project countries: Guatemala, Philippines, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire. This work was done within the context of the Scale-Up Cervical Cancer Elimination with Secondary Prevention Strategy (SUCCESS) project, funded by Unitaid, led by Expertise France and implemented together with UICC and Jhpiego.

ThinkWell brings knowledge to the CCE advocacy community on the health financing ecosystem for each of the project countries and how it applies to cervical cancer, including comprehensive and realistic perspectives on what it will take to advocate for sustainable financing approaches for CCE. The profiles outline policy actions for advocates and stakeholders to utilize in addressing the need for CCE financing.

Country Context

Why does financing for cervical cancer elimination matter?

Cervical cancer is a leading diagnosis among women in each country profiled. For example, cervical cancer is the second leading cancer diagnosis in Burkina Faso and takes the lives of over 2,000 Burkinabe women each year, but fewer than 1 in 10 Burkinabe women have been screened for cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccine is not currently included in the national immunization program (WHO 2021). Financing cervical cancer services is a vital step to ending these preventable deaths.

Taking Actionable Steps

By reviewing the current health system structures of each country, ThinkWell found that there is ample opportunity to take health financing-related actions towards the elimination of cervical cancer. As shown in the figure below, these actions are part of a continuum that spans the macro and micro contexts of any given country. Additionally, each country assessment includes policy action suggestions tailored to each country’s context.