Ministry of Health, Government of Japan and WHO join hands to advance cervical cancer elimination in Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 13 August 2026 — Mongolia is taking another important step towards eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem, with the handover of HPV-DNA based screening, diagnostic and treatment equipment that will help expand access to services for women across the country.

The Government of Japan has generously provided funding of US$ 630 000 through a UNITAID-supported initiative, implemented in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), to help Mongolia translate its commitment to cervical cancer elimination. The support reflects the longstanding partnership between Mongolia and Japan in advancing public health and strengthening health systems. Thought this initiative, Japan is helping Mongolia accelerate progress towards eliminating cervical cancer and ensuring that women, including those in remote areas, have access to life-saving screening, diagnosis and treatment services.

At the handover ceremony, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Cancer Center (NCC) received 20,000 HPV DNA test kits and 75 pieces of diagnostic and treatment equipment, with a total procurement value of approximately US$ 531 911. The support includes 25 portable colposcopes, 25 electrosurgical generators for Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP), and 25 handheld thermal ablation devices.

Minister of Health Batshugar Enkhbayar delivers remarks at the handover ceremony, reaffirming Mongolia's commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem. Photo credit: Ministry of Health

“Cervical cancer can be prevented and detected early, yet 521 women were newly diagnosed and 167 lost their lives to the disease in Mongolia in 2024. Behind these numbers are mothers, daughters, wives and families. We must therefore place greater emphasis on prevention and early detection. Today, with the support of our partners, we are taking another critical step by receiving HPV DNA test kits and equipment that will enable us to expand screening, diagnosis and treatment nationwide. Our goal is clear: no Mongolian woman should lose her life to cervical cancer when it can be prevented. We are grateful to Japan, WHO and our other partners for their continued support in protecting the health of Mongolian women,” said the Minister of Health Batshugar Enkhbayar.

Cervical cancer remains a significant public health challenge in Mongolia. It is the second most common cancer among women in the country.  Yet cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented and, when detected early, effectively treated. WHO’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer calls for countries to achieve the 90–70–90 targets: 90% of girls fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15; 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by ages 35 and 45; and 90% of women with cervical precancer or cancer receiving appropriate treatment and care.

Mongolia is making steady progress towards these targets. In 2024, the country introduced HPV vaccination into its national immunization programme, taking an important step towards preventing HPV infections that cause the vast majority of cervical cancer cases. By May 2026, HPV vaccine coverage had reached 48.6% among the 2013 birth cohort, 61.0% among those born in 2014 and 58.4% among the 2015 birth cohort.

In April 2025, Mongolia launched its Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, bringing together the MoH, WHO, NCC and the Ulaanbaatar City Health Department to strengthen screening, early diagnosis and timely treatment. The country also piloted HPV DNA testing in Khan-Uul District in 2025. The pilot screened 5,382 women, identifying 371 HPV-positive cases, 9 precancerous lesions and 7 cases of stage 0 cervical cancer. All women requiring follow-up received appropriate treatment. The results demonstrated the feasibility and value of HPV DNA testing and provided important evidence for scaling up the approach. 

To prepare for nationwide implementation, between March and July 2026 Mongolia strengthened the capacity of its health workforce. More than 740 health-care professionals from all 21 provinces and 9 districts of Ulaanbaatar were trained in HPV DNA testing, colposcopy and treatment of precancerous cervical lesions. Standardized national training materials were also developed to support consistent service delivery across the country.

H.E. Igawahara Masaru, Ambassador of Japan to Mongolia, speaks at the ceremony marking Japan's support for expanding cervical cancer screening and care across Mongolia. Photo credit: Ministry of Health

“Cervical cancer is largely preventable through effective screening and timely treatment. We hope that Japan’s support will help ensure that more women across Mongolia, including those in rural and remote areas, can access the screening and care they need closer to home. Japan is pleased to work together with the Government of Mongolia, WHO and UNITAID to protect the health and lives of women throughout the country,” said H.E. Igawahara Masaru, Ambassador of Japan to Mongolia.

The new equipment marks an important transition from implementation readiness to nationwide service delivery. Each of Mongolia’s 21 provinces will receive a portable colposcope, an electrosurgical generator for LEEP and a thermal ablation device. Ulaanbaatar will receive four sets of each type of equipment to respond to the higher demand for services in the capital. With the equipment now available, the MoH and NCC, with technical support from WHO, will expand HPV-DNA based cervical cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment services throughout the country.

The next phase will focus on screening women aged 30 and 40 years through Mongolia’s national digital call-and-recall system. Family health centres, soum health facilities and referral hospitals will identify eligible women, facilitate screening, ensure appropriate sample collection and transportation, and record results in the national screening database.

The programme will place particular emphasis on reaching women in rural and remote areas. By strengthening diagnostic and treatment capacity at provincial and district levels, the new equipment will enable women who test positive for HPV or are diagnosed with precancerous lesions to receive timely follow-up and treatment closer to home, reducing delays and the need to travel to Ulaanbaatar.

Dr Socorro Escalante, WHO Representative to Mongolia, addresses participants at the handover ceremony, highlighting WHO’s continued support for advancing cervical cancer elimination in the country. Photo credit: Ministry of Health

“Mongolia has demonstrated strong commitment to eliminating cervical cancer, and today we see that commitment translated into concrete action. This investment from the Government of Japan, delivered through the UNITAID partnership with WHO, is helping Mongolia move from planning and piloting to nationwide service delivery. WHO is proud to support Mongolia in this important journey towards a future where cervical cancer is no longer a major public health threat,” said Dr Socorro Escalante, WHO Representative to Mongolia.

As Mongolia moves towards nationwide implementation, the investment is expected to increase screening coverage, strengthen early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions, and improve access to quality cervical cancer prevention and care, particularly for women who face greater barriers to accessing services.

By building on the progress already achieved and through the support of the Government of Japan, Mongolia is strengthening its pathway towards eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem. This initiative demonstrates how international partnership, national leadership and targeted investment can save lives and improve health outcomes for women across the country.