MediQMongolia expands cervical cancer screening with new equipment for all provinces
Mongolia has received 20,000 HPV DNA test kits and 75 pieces of diagnostic and treatment equipment to expand cervical cancer screening nationwide. The programme will focus on women aged 30 and 40, including those in rural areas.
In short
- Mongolia received 20,000 HPV DNA test kits and 75 pieces of equipment to expand cervical cancer screening nationwide.
- Each of the 21 provinces will receive screening and treatment tools so women in rural areas can access care closer to home.
- The programme will focus on screening women aged 30 and 40 through the national digital call-and-recall system.
- In 2024, 521 women in Mongolia were newly diagnosed with cervical cancer and 167 died from it.
- More than 740 health-care professionals were trained in 2026 to deliver these services.
On 13 August 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, the Ministry of Health and the National Cancer Center received new medical supplies to expand cervical cancer screening and care. The Government of Japan provided funding of US$ 630,000 through a UNITAID-supported initiative, implemented with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The delivery includes 20,000 HPV DNA test kits and 75 pieces of diagnostic and treatment equipment, with a total procurement value of approximately US$ 531,911. Among these are 25 portable colposcopes (devices that let doctors look closely at the cervix), 25 electrosurgical generators for a procedure called LEEP (which removes abnormal tissue), and 25 handheld thermal ablation devices (tools that use heat to destroy precancerous cells). Each of Mongolia’s 21 provinces will receive one set of this equipment, while Ulaanbaatar will receive four sets.
Why early detection matters
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Mongolia. In 2024, 521 women were newly diagnosed and 167 lost their lives to the disease, according to Minister of Health Batshugar Enkhbayar. However, it is one of the few cancers that can be prevented and effectively treated when found early.
A pilot project in Khan-Uul District in 2025 tested 5,382 women using HPV DNA testing. It identified 371 HPV-positive cases, 9 precancerous lesions and 7 cases of stage 0 cervical cancer. All women who needed follow-up received appropriate treatment. These results demonstrated the feasibility and value of HPV DNA testing and provided important evidence for scaling up the approach.
Reaching women across the country
The next phase will screen women aged 30 and 40 years using Mongolia’s national digital call-and-recall system. Family health centres, soum health facilities and referral hospitals will identify eligible women, help with screening, collect samples and record results in the national database.
A key goal is reaching women in rural and remote areas. By placing equipment in every province, women who test positive for HPV or have precancerous changes can receive timely care closer to home. This reduces delays and the need to travel to Ulaanbaatar.
To prepare for this expansion, more than 740 health-care professionals from all 21 provinces and 9 districts of Ulaanbaatar were trained between March and July 2026. They learned how to perform HPV DNA testing, use colposcopes and treat precancerous lesions.
Mongolia also introduced HPV vaccination into its national immunization programme in 2024. By May 2026, vaccine coverage had reached 48.6% among girls born in 2013, 61.0% among those born in 2014 and 58.4% among those born in 2015. WHO recommends that countries vaccinate 90% of girls against HPV by age 15 and screen 70% of women by ages 35 and 45.
What you can do now
- If you are a woman aged 30 or 40, ask your family health centre or soum clinic about cervical cancer screening when they contact you through the national recall system.
- Talk to your local health facility if you have questions about the HPV vaccine for girls in your family.
- Attend screening appointments promptly if your local health facility invites you, as early detection makes treatment much more effective.
- Ask your local health centre whether the new screening and treatment equipment is available in your province.
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