Cervical screening change delayed until 2021

WELLINGTON: A change that would require women to take a smear test every five years has been delayed until 2021.

Cervical cancer tests were due to change this year to screening for human papillomavirus (HPV), meaning screening would be required once every five years, instead of every three.

However, the Ministry of Health announced yesterday a ‘‘phased approach’’, meaning the change was not likely to happen for several years.

Dr Jane O’Hallahan, clinical director of the ministry’s National Screen ing Unit, said a date for transitioning testing to HPV primary screening was still to be decided, ‘‘however we’re working towards commencing from 2021’’.

‘‘For human papillomavirus primary screening to be safely introduced, the clinical pathways must be supported by a fitforpurpose IT solution. Simply adapting the current IT system is not a viable option.’’

A more imminent change will be raising the starting age for cervical screening from 20 to 25 years in 2019.

That decision was made because of strong evidence that screening between the ages of 20 and 24 provides little benefit and can cause harm.

Human papillomavirus, which causes more than 90% of cervical cancers, is common in younger age groups and often clears up on its own.

About 160 women develop cervical cancer each year.

New Zealand uses liquidbased cytology screening at present.

Former health minister Jonathan Coleman announced the change to HPV screening in 2016, saying testing for the virus was internationally recognised as a better primary test for cervical screening, and the change was expected to further reduce cervical cancer deaths by 16% in unvaccinated women. — NZME