<![CDATA[Despite Indonesia’s commitment to the WHO 2030 cervical cancer elimination targets, screening coverage remains below target and current policies primarily focus on women aged 30 years and older. This policy brief evaluates the epidemiological, economic, and implementation rationale for expanding cervical cancer screening to women aged 20–29 years in Indonesia. A policy analysis and evidence synthesis were conducted using data from Badan Pusat Statistik, GLOBOCAN, national policy documents, economic evaluation studies, and implementation reports. Epidemiological projections, cost-utility evidence, and comparative implementation experiences were reviewed to assess the potential impact of earlier screening. Women aged 20–29 years represent approximately 21.67 million individuals and a critical period for detecting persistent high-risk HPV infections before progression to cervical cancer. Evidence suggests that expanding HPV DNA-based screening to this age group could reduce future cervical cancer incidence, improve early detection, and generate substantial long-term healthcare savings. Implementation models such as HPV self-sampling and digital patient tracking have demonstrated the potential to overcome geographic, psychological, and health-system barriers. Integrating women aged 20–29 years into Indonesia’s cervical cancer screening strategy may strengthen progress toward elimination targets and improve equity, efficiency, and long-term health outcomes. Policy efforts should prioritize phased implementation, digital integration, and expanded access to HPV-based screening..]]>
