The Cancer Policy Lab Model: Strengthening Health Systems for Evidence-Informed Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Policy in Uganda

PURPOSE To establish and implement the Cancer Policy Lab (CPL) model as a structured platform to strengthen national health system capacity for translating global evidence into actionable cancer control policy and practice in Uganda. METHODS The CPL Uganda (CPL-U), convened by the ANANDA Centre for Cancer Research (ACCR), brought together stakeholders across different levels of the health system, including policymakers, clinicians, researchers, civil society organizations, patient representatives, and implementing partners. The Lab applied a systems-oriented approach combining evidence synthesis, multi-sector dialogue, and structured group work across four domains: policy and governance; financing and sustainability; equity and access; and implementation and health systems. The Lab followed a four-step process: (1) defining a national policy question on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination prioritization; (2) synthesizing global and local evidence, including vaccine effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and delivery strategies; (3) facilitating structured multi-sector deliberations to assess feasibility within the Ugandan health system; and (4) co-producing policy recommendations and drafting a policy brief for decision-makers. RESULTS The Lab generated actionable recommendations to optimize HPV vaccination in Uganda and produced the first CPL policy brief on HPV vaccination prioritization for national dissemination and policy engagement. Recommendations included maintaining the single-dose HPV vaccination strategy, prioritizing girls aged 9-14 years with catch-up vaccination up to 20 years, and institutionalizing regular policy review to align with emerging evidence. Financing recommendations emphasized strengthening domestic resource mobilization through dedicated Primary Health Care budget lines, increased government co-financing, and use of national cost-benefit analysis to guide investment decisions. Equity recommendations focused on targeted outreach to underserved populations, including out-of-school girls and vulnerable groups, alongside strengthened communication strategies to improve vaccine acceptance and demand. Implementation recommendations included integrating HPV vaccination delivery across service platforms, strengthening health worker training, improving supply chain systems, reinforcing multi-sector coordination, and enhancing data systems for accountable programme scale-up. CONCLUSION Structured, facilitated multi-sector engagement enhanced ownership, feasibility, and policy relevance of recommendations. The CPL demonstrates a practical and scalable model for linking global evidence to local policy and implementation while strengthening health systems. The model has strong potential for replication across cancer control priorities and other health policy challenges in diverse settings.