India Pharma Outlook Team | Friday, 11 September 2026
Nearly 200 women die of cervical cancer in India every day. This stark daily toll underscores why the country’s expanding HPV vaccination program carries such weight.
On 11 September 2026, the Union Health Ministry announced that India had crossed 80 lakh HPV vaccinations, a milestone that strengthens the national effort to prevent the disease and reduce future deaths.
The nationwide campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Ajmer on 28 February.
The campaign targets girls aged 14 years and above with a free single-dose Gardasil-4 vaccine at government health facilities. Health officials described the figure as another step towards a healthier, cancer-free future for the country’s daughters.
Cervical cancer remains one of the most common cancers affecting women in India. Indian-American radiation oncologist Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori, a 2026 Padma Bhushan awardee, has repeatedly highlighted the human cost.
He noted that about 200 women die of the disease every day in the country. At the same time, he stressed that the illness is “preventable, detectable, treatable and curable.” Nori has described the HPV vaccination drive as giving India a decisive advantage. “Now, with the HPV vaccination, we have an upper hand, and in few years, we’ll be able to eliminate cancer of the cervix from India,” he said.
He also pointed to broader improvements in India’s cancer prevention and treatment ecosystem over the past 12 years, including the establishment of the National Cancer Institute and the expansion of treatment facilities.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign from Ajmer, Rajasthan, on 28 February. The program targets girls aged 14 years and above. It uses a single-dose Gardasil-4 (quadrivalent HPV vaccine) administered free of cost at government healthcare facilities.
These include Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, primary and community health centers, sub-district and district hospitals, and government medical colleges.
Key operational features of the drive include:
Health authorities are coordinating with schools, local bodies and healthcare workers to expand access. Operational guidelines have been shared with all states and Union Territories.
Crossing 80 lakh doses marks measurable progress, yet sustained high coverage, continued awareness campaigns and robust screening will determine whether India can convert the current momentum into elimination.
Nori’s clinical assessment places vaccination at the center of prevention while reminding the system that early detection and treatment remain essential. The daily death toll of roughly 200 women continues to frame the urgency. Each additional dose administered under the national program moves the country closer to reducing that number, provided coverage expands steadily, and complementary screening and treatment services keep pace.
