Editing Pap test (section)

==Implementation by country==

=== Australia ===
Australia has used the Pap test as part of its cervical screening program since its implementation in 1991 which required women past the age of 18 be tested every two years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cervical cancer screening |url=https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/early-detection-and-screening/cervical-cancer-screening|access-date=2020-08-13|website=www.cancer.org.au|language=en}}</ref> In December 2017 Australia discontinued its use of the Pap test and replaced it with a new HPV test that is only required to be conducted once every five years from the age of 25.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cervical Screening|date=15 August 2019 |publisher=Australian Government Department of Health |url=http://www.cancerscreening.gov.au/internet/screening/publishing.nsf/Content/cervical-screening-1 |language=en|access-date=2020-08-13}}</ref> Medicare covers the costs of testing; however, if a patient's doctor does not allow bulk billing, they may have to pay for the appointment and then claim the Medicare rebate.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cancer Institute of NSW|title=Do I need to pay for my cervical screen|url=https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/cervical-screening-nsw/your-cervical-screening-appointment/do-i-need-to-pay-for-my-cervical-screen|website=Cancer Institute NSW}}</ref>

=== Taiwan ===
Free Pap tests were offered from 1974–1984 before being replaced by a system in which all women over the age of 30 could have the cost of their Pap test reimbursed by the National Health Insurance in 1995.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chen|first1=Y-Y|last2=You|first2=S-L|last3=Chen|first3=C-A|last4=Shih|first4=L-Y |last5=Koong|first5=S-L|last6=Chao|first6=K-Y|last7=Hsiao|first7=M-L|last8=Hsieh|first8=C-Y|last9=Chen |first9=C-J|date=2009-07-07 |title=Effectiveness of national cervical cancer screening programme in Taiwan: 12-year experiences|journal=British Journal of Cancer|volume=101|issue=1|pages=174–177 |doi=10.1038/sj.bjc.6605139|pmc=2713714|pmid=19536091 |issn=0007-0920}}</ref> This policy was still ongoing in 2018 and encouraged women to screen at least every three years.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Chen |first1=M.-J.|last2=Wu|first2=C.-Y.|last3=Chen|first3=R.|last4=Wang |first4=Y.-W.|date=2018-10-01 |title=HPV Vaccination and Cervical Cancer Screening in Taiwan|journal=Journal of Global Oncology |volume=4|issue=Supplement 2|pages=235s|doi=10.1200/jgo.18.94300|issn=2378-9506|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Despite this, the number of people receiving Pap tests remain lower than countries like Australia. Some believe this is due to a lack of awareness regarding the test and its availability. It has also been found that women who have chronic diseases or other reproductive diseases are less likely to receive the test.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Fang-Hsin Leea |author2=Chung-Yi Lic |author3=Hsiu-Hung Wanga |author4=Yung-Mei Yang |title=The utilization of Pap tests among different female medical personnel: A nationwide study in Taiwan |journal=Preventive Medicine|volume=56 |issue=6 |pages=406–409 |year=2013 |doi=10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.03.001 |pmid=23524115}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.iprojectmaster.com/NURSING/final-year-project-materials/knowledge-and-acceptability-of-cervical-cancer-screening-among-female-part-time-students|title=Knowledge of Cervical Cancer Screening among Women |website=iprojectmaster.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Peterson NB, Murff HJ, Cui Y, Hargreaves M, Fowke JH |title=Papanicolaou testing among women in the southern United States |journal=Journal of Women's Health |date=Jul–Aug 2008 |volume=17 |issue=6 |pages=939–946 |doi=10.1089/jwh.2007.0576 |pmc=2942751 |pmid=18582173}}</ref>

=== England ===
{{As of|2020}} the NHS maintains a cervical screening program in which women between the age of 25–49 are invited for a smear test every three years, and women past 50 every five years. Much like Australia, England uses a HPV test before examining cells that test positive using the Pap test.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cervical screening (smear testing) {{!}} Health Information {{!}} Bupa UK|url=https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/womens-health/cervical-screening|access-date=2020-08-14|website=www.bupa.co.uk|language=en-GB}}</ref> The test is free as part of the national cervical screening program.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-08-30|title=About cervical screening|url=https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening/what-is-cervical-screening|access-date=2020-08-14|website=Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust|language=en}}</ref>