NHS England launches free HPV self-test kits for cervical screening

NHS England has begun offering free human papillomavirus (HPV) self-testing kits to nearly four million women who are not up to date with cervical screening, in a major initiative aimed at boosting participation and moving closer to eliminating the disease by 2040. The program, which started on August 25, 2026, targets women and people with a cervix aged 30 to 65 in England who have missed previous screening invitations. The rollout addresses a significant gap in preventive care, as current figures show only 68.8% of eligible women are up to date with their cervical screening, well below the NHS target of 80%.