Chile seeks to boost cervical screening uptake
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Chile has renewed calls for women to attend their cervical screening appointment, in a bid to increase uptake rates. 66% of women aged 25-64 years currently take up the three-yearly offer, yet "the ideal rate for reducing cervical cancer-related mortality is 80%", claims the health ministry, estimating that this would save an additional 700 or so lives annually. Cervical cancer is covered by Chile's "guaranteed access to care" (AUGE) programme, which promises specialist care within 30 days of a confirmed diagnosis. Between July 2005 and June 2008, AUGE treated 50,422 cases, according to a government report on the first three years of the programme.