Beating cervical cancer globally is possible with the right solution

Why not save as many lives as you can? Researcher Huaqing Li asked that question very early on while working on a new method to effectively and quickly scan, detect and even predict the risks or presence of cervical cancer. His innovation, the Gynecular, is now the world's leading portable optical colposcope.

No other existing colposcope is truly portable like the Gynecular. It is small, lightweight and it can easily be stored in a small bag or pocket. The cutting-edge technology is based on advanced optics and LED, combined to provide the best quality colposcopy images possible with existing technology.

The Gynecular has been developed for years and is now widely used in many parts of the world. The product reached market via the Gothenburg-based medical technology developer Gynius, founded by Huaqing Li.

The most suitable device and solution

From the very beginning, it has been clear that third world countries, where women’s health initiatives are mostly led by non-profit organizations, make up the main market for Gynius. There are several countries in Africa, South America and parts of Asia, that lack the resources to screen its female population efficiently, and as a result death rates of cervical cancer are high. With the Gynecular, the problem is addressed in a fast and cost-efficient way.

“The mission has always been to offer a solution that is both easy to use, and affordable. The Gynecular is being further developed to become even more efficient and to provide even better quality images. A lot of work is also put into training health care professionals locally, so that they can make the best use of the technology and thus save more lives”, says Huaqing Li, himself traveling to many low- to middle income countries to train health care personnel in person.

The Gynecular is now the most suitable device to meet the needs of health care professionals and patients in low to middle income countries, just as predicted and hoped for a couple of years ago. Huaqing Li is pleased about the progress, but will not rest until the Gynecular has reached its full potential, which is when it becomes standard of use on its main markets.

From single product to full solution provider

Gynius has changed its organisational focus from single product developer and manufacturer to a full solution provider. Focus is now not only on detecting cervical cancer, but also on being able to predict its development in the future. By detecting the virus, treatment can be applied without delay and cancer can be avoided completely. The faster treatment can be started, the better in all cases.

Conventional screening methods are performed at hospitals, they are costly and take a lot of time. Further, in most low- to middle income countries, most of the population do not have access to the screening facilities anyway, due to various reasons, one being that it is often a long journey away from home. The Gynocular deals with all these challenges.

The cost of screening has to be taken further into account. In low to middle income countries, only the wealthiest have so far been able to obtain preventative health care. The Gynecular is very much a game-changer in that it allows wider screening, including women in all income groups. In order to reach these groups, Gynius has set up collaborations with all the humanitarian organisations in the field.

Saving lives is the main goal

Cervical cancer is still the most aggressive and most fatal cancer affecting women globally. Gynius continues to invest in its technology advancement, deepening contact with humanitarian organisations, enabling screening of more and more women. Saving lives has always been the main goal, and remains so for the future as well.