Czech Republic urges smokers to quit and launches free lung‑cancer screening

Medical experts stress that quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis markedly improves treatment response, lowers complication risk and can cut overall mortality by up to 50 %. Studies from Yale Cancer Center and Washington University indicate that about 15 % of oncology patients continue to smoke, and those who persist have nearly double the risk of death compared with non‑smokers.

The Czech General Health Insurance Company (VZP) has introduced a free lung‑cancer screening programme for heavy smokers aged 55‑74. Since its start in 2022, 43,735 people were invited, 29,278 enrolled, and 631 received a high‑risk finding, of which 66 were identified in the first quarter of 2024. The programme uses low‑dose CT scans to detect tumours at an early stage. "For VZP it is very positive that more of our clients are agreeing to participate, because early detection can save lives," said Miroslav Janků, deputy director of VZP. Prof. Milan Sova, head of the Pulmonary Clinic at the Faculty Hospital in Brno, added that smoking cessation remains the most effective prevention measure for lung cancer patients.