Get tested for cervical cancer, urges Deputy Health Minister

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is urging Malaysian women to get themselves tested for cervical cancer, citing a concerning figure by the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019 released recently.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali, citing figures NHMS 2019 figures, said that 60% of women had not conducted a pap smear test in the past three years.

Another 25% of women, said Dr Noor Azmi, are not aware of methods to test for cervical cancer.

"I think the issue here is the test itself. A pap smear isn't comfortable and many women are embarrassed. Some are scared and some do not care," he told the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time in Parliament on Monday (Aug 10).

He was responding to June Leow (PH-Hulu Selangor), who asked the government to state the feasibility of making available pap smear tests for qualified women in the B40 group.

Dr Noor Azmi said that pap smear tests can be done at hospitals and clinics under the Health Ministry at only RM1, while reminding that cervical cancer is the third-most common cancer among women at present.

If women are afraid of pap smear tests, Dr Noor Azmi said they can opt for the self-sampling human papilloma virus (HPV) test, where it is less invasive and can be done at in the comfort of their own homes.

"This is the highest screening method in the world, especially in Australia. God-willing, we are able to fully eradicate cervical cancer in future and lives will be saved."

Earlier, Dr Noor Azmi told the Dewan that cervical cancer is the ninth most common cancer in Malaysia, with an incident rate of 6.2 per 100,000 population.

Dr Noor Azmi said breast cancer figures were higher at 34.1 per 100,000 population.

"That is why breast cancer screening is given priority to be included as part of the health screening package for the PeKa B40," he said, referring to the healthcare protection scheme for the low-income B40 group.

Dr Noor Azmi also said the Perikatan Nasional government will continue and improve the existing PeKa B40 programme introduced by the former Pakatan Harapan administration.

"The Perikatan government likes this programme very much, and we will continue with it," he added.