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Estonia Scales Up HPV Screening with Pharmacy Test Kits
Estonian health authorities have made at-home HPV test kits for cervical cancer screening available in nearly 400 pharmacies from the start of the year, aiming to boost participation among women aged 30-65 after more than 2,200 utilized the option following its initial launch last August.
- —Estonia's Health Development Institute (TAI) and Health Insurance Fund are encouraging women aged 30-65 to undergo cervical cancer screenings every five years, with a focus on making at-home HPV tests more accessible.
- —This year, at-home HPV test kits for cervical cancer screening are readily available from the start of the year in nearly 400 pharmacies across Estonia, in addition to being orderable online.
- —The at-home test kits include a sample collection device and instructions, with pre-paid envelopes provided for free mailing to a laboratory via postal services or parcel machines.
- —In the previous year, over 47,000 women participated in cervical cancer screenings, representing over 63% of those invited, with more than 2,200 women utilizing the at-home test option after its introduction in August.
- —Cervical cancer is preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screenings, with approximately 130 cases diagnosed and around 60 deaths occurring annually in Estonia.
Recap
Estonia's public health strategy is shifting towards decentralized, accessible preventative care by integrating HPV screening into everyday retail and logistics networks. The wide pharmacy rollout is a direct attempt to overcome patient inertia and increase participation in a program designed to reduce mortality from a preventable cancer, using last year's initial uptake as a model for a national scale-up.