The Socioeconomic Burden Of Cervical Cancer in the UK: What are the benefits of achieving the WHO elimination target?

The Burden

Our comprehensive analysis reveals that cervical cancer’s lifetime cost per case in the UK is a staggering £210,000. This encompasses healthcare system expenses, individual patient costs, and wider societal impacts from morbidity and mortality, as Figure 1 shows. Workplace productivity losses (63% of the total burden), and informal care losses (22% of the total burden) constitute the major components, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the challenge.

Figure 1 Framework of cervical cancer socioeconomic burden

* Productivity loss quantifications already include tax returns due to workplace absenteeism. From a societal perspective, tax returns and costs to the social security system (e.g., welfare payments, sickness benefits) are considered a transfer and therefore should not be included in the full cost of disease. 

As of 2023, the preventable socioeconomic burden of cervical cancer in the UK amounts to £406 million, equivalent to 40% of the nation’s combined spending on immunisation and early detection programs pre-COVID-19. This also represents approximately 8% of the total pre-COVID-19 spending on preventative care. The preventable burden represents 59% of the total burden, meaning if cervical cancer had already been eliminated, significant resources would have been freed up for other healthcare measures.

Looking into the Future

Our projections suggest that achieving the WHO elimination threshold by 2046 could save the UK a remarkable £2.6 billion over the period from 2023 to 2046 as Figure 2 show. While NHS England’s commitment to elimination by 2040 is commendable, a measurable plan is imperative to maintain momentum and bring the socioeconomic benefits closer to reality.

Figure 2 Achieving the WHO elimination target in the UK by 2046 could save £2.6 billion

Constant incidence = current incidence of 9.7 per 100,000 maintained until 2046
Current trajectory = elimination target of 4 per 100,000 achieved in 2046, as per published epidemiological estimate for UK

The report underscores the need for a nationwide strategy, extending beyond NHS England, to propel the UK towards cervical cancer elimination. A specific, measurable plan with defined actions and milestones is necessary to actualise the 2040 target. Adopting similar strategies across all UK nations — Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales — will not only fortify the commitment to elimination but also expedite the journey toward a cervical cancer-free future.

Unveiling Potential Savings

Beyond the quantifiable financial gains, the report may underestimate the true extent of the socioeconomic burden associated with cervical cancer. Unaccounted impacts such as the loss of a parent on a child’s educational attainment are an example of wider set of hidden costs. NHS England’s commitment, if reinforced by a tangible plan of action, has the potential to surpass predicted savings, bringing us closer to a future where cervical cancer is not just treatable but entirely preventable.

This report, ‘The Socioeconomic Burden of Cervical Cancer in the UK: What are the Benefits of Achieving the WHO Elimination Target?’ was commissioned and funded by MSD.