BACKGROUND:
South Africa continues to face a high burden of cervical cancer, with many cases diagnosed at advanced stages despite available screening services. Evidence-based, population-level screening remains essential to reducing preventable morbidity and mortality. The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) provides cervical cancer screening benefits to its members across all options, yet utilisation patterns require further investigation. This study examined the uptake of Pap smears, human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and co-testing among female GEMS beneficiaries aged 18–65 years from 2022 to 2025.

METHODS:
A descriptive analysis of claims data for female GEMS beneficiaries aged 18–65 years (2022–2024) was conducted to assess the uptake of Pap smears, HPV tests, and co-testing. The analysis, conducted in September and October 2025, examined overall utilisation trends and variations by age, geography, and service setting.

RESULTS:
Overall, 19% of eligible women received at least one Pap smear within 3 years, while only 0.11% received both a Pap smear and an HPV test. Pap smear uptake remained consistently low among eligible beneficiaries between 2022 and 2024 (10.2–10.9%), with the highest uptake observed among women aged 25–44 years (~15%). Moderate uptake was observed in the 45–54 age group (~12–13%), and lower but gradually increasing rates were noted in those 55 years and older (ranging from 6% to 10%). Screening remained particularly low in the 19–24 age group, at 4%. The total number of Pap smear claimants increased from 89969 in 2022 to 105766 in 2024. Over 82% of Pap smears were performed out-of-hospital, while 8–11% occurred in-hospital. Conclusion. Despite the availability of screening benefits, uptake among GEMS members remains low, particularly among younger and older women. Enhancing awareness, improving access, and aligning benefits with national guidelines could boost early detection and support South Africa’s cervical cancer elimination goals.