A critique has been raised that the national support for HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination, which can prevent cervical cancer, throat cancer, and oral cancer, is not being properly provided even as the number of patients with these cancers is increasing in the country.
According to the analysis of the number of patients with cervical cancer, throat cancer, and oral cancer submitted by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2020 to August 2024, the number of patients has been steadily increasing each year. In the case of cervical cancer that mainly affects women, the number of patients increased from 61,892 in 2020 to 71,109 in 2023. It is predicted that by the end of this year, the number of patients will reach 92,791. The number of patients with throat cancer and oral cancer, which show higher incidence rates in men than women, also increased from 397,951 and 5,466 in 2020 to 446,322 and 6,651 in 2023, respectively.
Despite the increasing trend in the number of patients, the free HPV vaccination program for male and female adolescents, a promise made by both ruling and opposition parties in the presidential election campaign, has not been implemented yet. The Disease Control Department director, Ji Young-mi, even stated in the parliamentary audit on the 8th that implementing free HPV vaccination for male and female adolescents next year would be difficult.
The free HPV vaccination program for male and female adolescents is already being implemented in 33 out of 38 OECD countries, with 28 countries supporting the 9-valent vaccine that targets more types of viruses. However, South Korea still only provides support for the 2-valent or 4-valent vaccine for female adolescents and low-income women, which is at the level of support similar to that of Mexico and Costa Rica.
The budget for the National Immunization Program (NIP) support has also been significantly reduced. According to data received by Congressman Seo, the budget for the NIP in 2025 decreased by 24.9% from 801.22 billion won in 2024 to 601.31 billion won in 2025.
Congressman Seo expressed regret that South Korea, a country that has joined the ranks of advanced countries, is still at the level of vaccine support similar to that of Mexico and Costa Rica, emphasizing that neglecting vaccine support in a situation where the number of HPV infection-related diseases is increasing every year is irresponsible behavior. He further stressed that both the government and the Disease Control Department should make efforts for expanding the support for HPV vaccination for male and female adolescents in order for South Korea to become a true advanced welfare and medical powerhouse.