FIND and Vietnam's Hai Phong Department of Health Launch Project to Accelerate Cervical Cancer Testing

• Cervical cancer is the 5th most common cancer among women in Viet Nam
• New project will develop a co-payment model to sustainably expand HPV testing
• Screening will include the option for women to self-collect samples and return them to community health centres

Hai Phong, Viet Nam – 04 November 2025 — FIND today launched a new project in partnership with the Hai Phong Department of Health, Vietnam to develop a co-payment mechanism that will expand access to cervical cancer screening across Hai Phong. The initiative aims to create a sustainable financial model that can be replicated across Viet Nam as the country advances toward universal health coverage.

Cervical cancer remains a major health challenge in Viet Nam. More than 3,000 women die every year, making it the fifth most common cancer among women nationally. Many of these deaths are preventable through routine screening for human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical lesions that can progress to cancer.

Dr Dayo Adetifa, CEO of FIND, said: “Each life lost to cervical cancer represents not just a number – but a mother, a sister, a daughter – someone whose life could have been saved through early detection. The good news is that we already have powerful tools to change this story but to have real impact, these tools must be accessible, affordable, and sustainable for all women — not just for those who can pay out of pocket – and that is exactly what this project is designed to address.”

Building on proven community-based HPV testing models

The new project draws on the results of FIND’s successful primary healthcare–based HPV DNA testing model piloted in Hai Phong between 2023 and 2024. That project introduced:

• Decentralized sample collection at community health centers
• Self-collection options for women
• Centralized, high-quality laboratory testing at the Hai Phong CDC
• A robust sample transport network via district health centers
• Digital systems to manage data, improve workflows and streamline result delivery

The model proved to be highly effective, feasible, and was well accepted across all levels of the health system. Of more than 5,000 women tested, 8.1% were found to have a high-risk of HPV infection – evidence that improved screening coverage is urgently needed.

By enabling community-level health workers to provide services previously unavailable at the grass-roots, the pilot significantly strengthened primary healthcare capacity – a priority in Vietnam’s national health strategy.

Scaling up access through sustainable financing

Hai Phong authorities have identified financial and policy barriers as key challenges to expanding cervical cancer screening. Currently, the national health budget and health insurance scheme do not cover preventive screening services such as HPV testing.

In response, the new project will develop a co-payment model that mobilizes funding from local government as well as beneficiaries, employers (e.g., providing testing for female workers) and philanthropic and private-sector contributors. This model aims to enable wide-scale rollout of HPV testing at community health facilities while reducing the financial burden on women.

Dr Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Director, FIND Viet Nam, added: “We know that community-based HPV screening works. Developing a sustainable co-payment model is the next critical step to enable scale-up in Hai Phong and, ultimately, replication at national level.”

High-level support from national and provincial health leaders

More than 90 participants attended the launch event at the Hai Phong Department of Health, including senior leaders from the Ministry of Health and provincial authorities expressed strong commitment for the project.

• Dr Tran Quoc Trinh, Vice Director, Hai Phong Department of Health, told the group that a co-pay model that includes various sources of funding is aligned with the provincial health strategy, adding that “this is a provincial project which will mobilize all of society for health care and prevention activities”.
• Dr Dinh Anh Tuan, Director, Department of Mother and Child Health, Ministry of Health stated that he looks forward to this co-payment model being implemented in Hai Phong and replicated nationwide. He was “glad that Hai Phong is a pioneer in realising the co-payment initative in the country”.
•  Dr Tran Thi Trang, Director, Department of Health Insurance, Ministry of Health, appreciated the importance of the project. She said, “this is a joint effort by FIND and DOH to initiate such a bold idea which aligns well the Government’s Directive” moving toward prevention

Participants also got an overview of the project’s operational plan, communications strategy, and next steps in the project implementation

Additional resources

The policy brief of community-based HPV testing  model can be found here.

Video recap: https://youtu.be/Ha2FA_pQ3U0