Table 3 Availability of Cervical Cancer Services in the Public Sector in Uttar Pradesh
Health Care Level | Description | Services Available |
|---|---|---|
First Referral Sites | Rural community health centers, Primary health centers, and rural sub-centers | Only referrals of women with reproductive tract infections symptoms to district hospitals for Pap smears. |
Second Referral Sites | Urban district hospitals | A few Pap smears performed on symptomatic women, treatment of precancer (cryotherapy* available but hysterectomy was most often used). In many secondary referral sites, women just referred to tertiary facilities. |
Tertiary Hospitals | Urban Medical Colleges and Universities | Pap-tests, colposcopy, Treatment of precancer (cryotherapy* available but hysterectomy was most commonly performed), cancer treatments (radical surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy). |
Specialized Oncology Treatment Centers (Under National Cancer Control Program) | 11 in Uttar Pradesh state, with one in Lucknow; none in Agra or Saharanpur | A range of cancer treatment services, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy. |