QUAD Moonshot to Fight Cervical Cancer: What India, US, Australia, Japan Announced

New Delhi: At the Sixth Quad Summit, India, Australia, Japan, and the United States discussed Joe Biden ’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative, aimed at tackling cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific. Cervical cancer, a preventable disease, remains a major health crisis in the region despite vaccination and early detection methods.

The initiative has garnered immense support from medical professionals and aims to improve patient outcomes by speeding up cancer detection and treatment. Cervical cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the Indo-Pacific, even though it can largely be prevented through HPV vaccination.

US President Joe Biden initiated the Cancer Moonshot after the death of his son, Beau Biden, from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. The initiative aims to tackle the shared challenges in healthcare access, resource limitations, and disparities in vaccination rates among the Quad nations.

Addressing Healthcare Gaps in the Indo-Pacific

The Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative seeks to address healthcare access challenges and vaccination disparities across member nations. Through regional cooperation, the initiative will raise awareness of HPV vaccination, expand access to screenings, and increase treatment options in underserved areas.

US

US President Joe Biden announced that, starting in 2025, the US Navy will support HPV vaccine expert exchanges with Indo-Pacific partners, enabling hands-on training for doctors and healthcare professionals. The US National Cancer Institute will also expand its support across South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific, focusing on cervical cancer vaccination, screening, and treatment strategies. Additionally, the US FDA will visit India within the next year to collaborate on clinical trials under 'Project Asha,' focusing on international regulatory standards and increasing access to cancer trials.

"Next year, doctors and nurses from the US Navy will begin a programme to train Indo-Pacific counterparts in conducting cervical cancer screening and vaccination. So we can reach every woman in the region...Today America, Australia, India and Japan choose to fight for every patient asking for one more day, one more week, one more year," Biden was quoted by ANI.

India

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the country would provide 40 million indigenously produced cervical cancer vaccines. India will also contribute detection and sampling kits worth $7.5 million. Prime Minister Modi highlighted India's mass-scale cervical cancer screening program and reiterated the importance of affordable, accessible healthcare through the collaborative efforts of the Quad nations.

Speaking at the Cancer Moonshot event in US, PM Modi said, “I want to thank President Biden for organizing this event. This reflects our shared determination to provide affordable, accessible and quality health care. During the COVID pandemic, we had taken the Quad Vaccine initiative for the Indo-Pacific and I am glad that in the Quad, we have decided to jointly tackle challenges like cervical cancer. In cancer care, collaboration is essential for cure. An integrated approach of prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment is necessary to reduce the burden of cancer. A very cost-effective cervical cancer screening program is underway in India at a mass scale.”

Australia

Australia, on the track of eliminating cervical cancer within its borders, will expand its Indo-Pacific Cervical Cancer Elimination Program. Partnering with neighboring countries like Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Vanuatu, Australia will provide HPV vaccination programs. The Australian Government has pledged $16.5 million towards this initiative, with an additional $13.1 million from the Minderoo Foundation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that the partnership would save lives across the Pacific.

“Australia is proud of the leading role we’ve played preventing cervical cancer worldwide. Today I am pleased to expand Australia’s regional cervical cancer elimination program in the Indo-Pacific.
“This announcement will save the lives of women in our Pacific family.
“The Quad Cancer Moonshot demonstrates that we can achieve more together than on our own.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Japan

Japan, under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has pledged ongoing technical and medical support, including the deployment of equipment and international cooperation in fighting cervical cancer across the Indo-Pacific.

"Regarding our support for measures against cancers in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan has offered support such as the deployment of equipment and technical cooperation, or support through international organisations and initiatives," the Japanese PM said in his remarks.
Regarding the measures against cervical cancers, we have supported the deployment of medical equipment and facilities, offered technical cooperation...and such endeavours will continue going forward," Kishida added.