The Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer (EPICC) program continues to make significant strides in the fight against cervical cancer. This comprehensive initiative aims to enhance cervical cancer prevention, screening, and treatment across the Indo-Pacific region. EPICC is the largest ever initiative of its kind, leveraging Australian, international and in-country partner expertise to accelerate the World Health Organization’s strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer.
Recent Developments and Achievements
Training and Capacity Building
Training healthcare providers is a key component of the EPICC program. In March 2025, the program conducted HPV-based screening program training in Timor-Leste, providing practical sessions on self-collected swabs and HPV testing using the GeneXpert system. Laboratory professionals were also trained on essential maintenance tasks for the GeneXpert system, ensuring ongoing support and education for healthcare providers.
Policy and Advocacy in Malaysia
EPICC continues to work closely with government agencies and stakeholders to develop and implement policies that support cervical cancer elimination. In Malaysia, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Program ROSE and the Ministry of Health has been signed. This MOU will enable closer collaboration and create a framework for engaging the health system in Malaysia’s cervical cancer elimination efforts.
Background
EPICC is made possible by a $16.5 million regional aid grant from the Australian Government, as part of the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative. It leverages longstanding local, regional and international partnerships to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region, coordinated with other Australian Government-funded and international efforts. EPICC builds on the successes of the Eliminating Cervical Cancer in the Western Pacific (ECCWP) project, funded by the Australian Minderoo Foundation, which has supported the introduction of sustainable elimination policy and practice in Vanuatu and the Western Highlands region of Papua New Guinea. The Minderoo Foundation has now also committed to support the EPICC program which is being implemented in PNG, Timor-Lese, Vanuatu, Fiji, Malaysia, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
The EPICC consortium comprises of:
- The University of Sydney
- The Kirby Institute
- Family Planning Australia
- The Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer
- Unitaid
- The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
EPICC focuses on the three pillars (immunisation, screening, treatment) of the WHO Global Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer. EPICC is currently funded as a four-year program, and consortium members are working with partner governments to undertake a range of cervical cancer control activities in the Indo-Pacific region, with a focus on capacity building, sustainability and equity.
EPICC is comprised of six priority and complementary areas of work, which address the three WHO pillars of cervical cancer elimination. By tackling cervical cancer, we will be strengthening multiple oncology care services, which will impact on other cancer outcomes.
Professor Karen Canfell on EPICC
The University of Sydney’s Professor Karen Canfell AC, said that while Australia is on track to be the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer, cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death in women in many neighbouring countries.
“This can all be turned around if we can implement the WHO Strategy for cervical cancer elimination, utilising well-established technologies – vaccination against human papillomavirus, which causes almost all cervical cancers, screening for early intervention, and improved access to treatment. ”
“EPICC sets out a plan to work with partner countries in the region to put these interventions on a sustainable footing, with the potential to save tens of thousands of lives in the short term and millions over the century.”
Looking Ahead
The EPICC program remains committed to its mission of eliminating cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region. With ongoing support from partners, government agencies, and the community, EPICC is poised to achieve sustainable success in cervical cancer elimination, screening, and treatment.
