21 October 2026
Poland launched its nationwide lung cancer screening programme on 1 October, which sees low-dose CT screening embedded within its publicly guaranteed healthcare services for the first time.
Until now, screening had only been available through local and regional pilots supported by temporary funding. But a new regulation from the Minister of Health, published in June 2026, changed that, helping secure long-term public funding.
It is a milestone for the Polish Healthy Lungs Coalition, an IRC member that has made building a lung cancer screening programme one of its core priorities since its founding in 2022. Working alongside the Polish Society of Pulmonary Diseases, patient organisations and the Parliamentary Group on Pulmonary Diseases, the coalition made the case that low-dose CT is one of the most effective tools for early detection of lung cancer. Their efforts helped secure the long-term public funding commitment.
Dr Aleksander Kania, member of the Polish Healthy Lungs Coalition, said:
“This is an important step resulting from many months of collaboration between patient organisations, the medical community and policymakers. Thanks to joint efforts and discussions with the Ministry of Health, it has been possible to secure permanent funding for the lung cancer screening programme, paving the way for its long-term implementation within the public healthcare system.”
The programme is aimed at people at the highest risk of lung cancer, including people aged 55 to 74 years with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years. The coalition is now focused on promoting screening and encouraging eligible people to take part.