A national lung cancer screening program is finally set to become a reality, with the Federal Government committing over $260 million to a targeted scheme.

It means eligible Australians will be able to receive fully-subsidised screening every two years between the ages of 50 and 70, conducted via low-dose CT sans.

The program is expected to begin in 2025.

It follows a long campaign by respiratory physicians and lung cancer advocates, culminating in a positive recommendation from the Medical Services Advisory Committee last October.

At a cost of $265 million over the forward estimates, the initiative will prevent an estimated 4,080 deaths from lung cancer, said Minister for Health Mark Butler.

With lung cancer particularly prevalent among Indigenous patients, another $239 million would be allocated to improve accessibility of mainstream cancer services and build the capacity of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to support cancer care needs on the ground, he added.

The announcement was welcomed by Lung Foundation Australia, which described the implementation of a National Targeted Lung Cancer Screening Program as “a momentous step forward for all Australians.”

CEO Mark Brooke said the entire organisation was “absolutely thrilled”.

“For more than five years we have advocated for a program that would help address the inequity outcomes for Australia’s biggest cancer killer – lung cancer – and today we can finally say we have achieved that goal,” he said.

“It’s not only a success for the lung cancer community but for Australia as a whole.”

Under the scheme endorsed by MSAC, screening will be available for current smokers aged 50-70, who have a history of cigarette smoking of at least 30 pack-years.

Former smokers will also be eligible, if they have quit within the previous decade.

$260 million for a National Targeted Lung Cancer Screening Program @Lungfoundation is so thrilled to see this investment thank you @Mark_Butler_MP pic.twitter.com/mPP7bjyCWe

— Mark Brooke – Lung Foundation CEO (@markbrooke68) May 2, 2023

Cancer Australia CEO Professor Dorothy Keefe said the launch of the program was an important move towards equity in cancer outcomes for priority groups, including for First Nations Australians.

“Australia’s new National Lung Cancer Screening Program is the among the first in the world, representing a significant step forward in the global effort to tackle lung cancer and positioning Australia as a world leader in this area,” she said.

“We welcome the announcement of nearly $238.5 million to build the capacity and capability of the Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services sector to respond to and support cancer care needs on the ground, to ensure mainstream cancer care services are culturally safe and accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to deliver coordinated cancer specialist and primary health care to an optimal standard.”

Mr Butler said the announcement is part of the 2023–24 Federal Budget that will include $737 million “to fund a number of measures to protect Australians against the harm caused by tobacco and vaping products.”