SVT News has previously stated that more than half of Sweden's regions have chosen to pause their cell samples due to the corona virus. This is despite the fact that the number of cases of cervical cancer has increased over the past five years and is now at the same levels as before the screening was introduced in Sweden - over 50 years ago. 

Now, the National Board of Health and Welfare proposes that the regions should temporarily offer women self-test for HPV, the virus that causes cell changes that can lead to cancer.  

- We have come to the conclusion that health benefits outweigh the disadvantages. It may be that some of those who can now be screened would not receive screening at all. So we have not primarily compared self-sampling with regular sampling, but with no sampling at all, says Mattias Fredricson, head of unit responsible for national guidelines and screening at the National Board of Health and Welfare.

Important information

The temporary regulations mean that the regions can offer all women between the ages of 23-64 to test for HPV at home if, due to the pandemic, they cannot be called for regular sampling. 

- It is important that the regions that choose to do this are very careful to produce information material for the women so that they know how to do it, what the test means and where they can turn if they do not want to do it.

"Just an opportunity"

The plan is that the rules will start to apply in mid-July this year, until June 2021. The proposal is now out for a referral.

The patient organization The Network Against Gynecological Cancer, which has been asked to comment, is satisfied with the National Board of Health's proposal, and that all age groups are affected.

“However, we are dissatisfied that this is only an opportunity. They do not say that the regions should. I know that the National Board of Health and Welfare cannot force the regions to do anything, but it does contribute to the unequal screening, ”writes Chairman Barbro Sjölander to SVT News.

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This is HPV virus