Vaccination and screening are the pillars of the strategy to eliminate HPV in Portugal
“We think that vaccination and screening will be the essential measures – some of them are already in application – the objective is for them to be in application throughout the country†, defends Rui Medeiros, from the European Cancer Organization
“Where we fail a lot is in the response time after a positive test,†warns Pedro Vieira Baptista, gynecologist at Centro Universitário Hospitalar de São João
“What is intended is a global action, so it is absolutely fundamental that these strategies have a European aspect, but that they can be translated at a global level,†explains Marta Valente Pinto, president of the Commission. DGS Vaccination Technique
“Prevention – vaccination – is the most effective measure, but so is screening,†guarantees Teresa Fernandes, from the DGS Vaccination Center
“Portugal is a global example. Why? Because we have an accessible and free screening program for all women and we have a vaccination plan that includes the HPV vaccine,” explains Ana Povo, Secretary of State for Health
“It is important that teenagers adhere en masse to the vaccination plan and, it seems, they are getting vaccinated and there are already some initial signs that this will have a positive impact on their health of the Portuguese”, says José Dinis, coordinator of the National Plan for Oncological Diseases
“The European strategy gives us a real signal that countries must move towards what is an elimination strategy. Portugal is carrying out this assessment,†says Rita Sá Machado, general director of Health
