Regional health initiatives launch HPV testing programs in Argentina and Bolivia

Health authorities in Argentina and Bolivia have launched targeted initiatives to detect Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and prevent cervical cancer through expanded testing programs.

In the Chubut province of Argentina, a provincial plan conducted by the Secretariat of Health and the Social Security and Insurance Institute (ISSyS) has completed 734 tests across Río Senguer, Dolavon, Gaiman, and Esquel. The program is entering a second stage, which aims to provide self-testing options for women aged 30 to 65 to identify high-risk HPV types.

In El Alto, Bolivia, the municipal government is coordinating with the National Institute of Nuclear Medicine (INAMEN) to provide free RT-PCR molecular testing. These tests, which target women aged 30 to 65 enrolled in the Unified Health System (SUS), offer approximately 90% sensitivity in detecting high-risk genotypes. The municipality aims to host 50% of the department's annual goal of 7,500 patients through this initiative.