From 1 January 2025, women aged 30 to 64 will be invited to undergo cervical cancer screening every five years, according to a statement released by the outgoing Minister of Public Health, Frank Vandenbroucke, on Thursday.
The current cytology test, required every three years, will be replaced by a HPV test, which only needs to be done every five years. The test can be performed by either a general practitioner or a gynaecologist through a smear test, done via a cervix swab.
The switch follows the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), which wants countries to step up the fight against HPV, one of the main causes of cervical cancer.
"We must do everything we can to further step up the fight against cervical cancer," stressed Vandenbroucke (Vooruit).
For women aged 25 to 29, the three-year cytology test will remain in force as it is the best screening method for this group, the statement added.
The Vandenbroucke office also stressed the need to encourage screening programmes. In Flanders, 35.5% of women do not get a smear test even when they are invited to do so. In Wallonia and Brussels, the figures are even higher, at 40% and 44%, respectively.
"If we can save the lives of young women, there is no excuse not to do so. That is why we resolutely choose the most effective way of screening, based on scientific research," said Vandenbroucke.
