Italian hospitals roll out free lung cancer screenings and quit‑smoking services for World No‑Tobacco Day

On May 30, marking World No‑Tobacco Day, Italian health institutions launched coordinated anti‑smoking initiatives. In Aprilia, the Ospedale Città di Aprilia (ODA) and the Ospedale Regina Apostolorum (ORA) partnered with LILT Latina to offer free low‑dose CT lung scans for twelve high‑risk residents and free spirometry for heavy smokers aged 40 and over. The program highlights that early‑stage lung cancer has a 90 % five‑year survival rate, while Italy records more than 43 000 new cases each year, 85 % of which are linked to smoking.

In Lombardy, ASST Bergamo Ovest promoted its specialised quit‑smoking centres, providing multidisciplinary assessment, counseling, and pharmacological support such as cytisine. Three certified Antifumo centres in Martinengo, Ponte San Pietro and Treviglio were listed, and free information points were set up in Treviglio and Dalmine on the day. The regional campaign, "La vera libertà è non dipendere," aims to reach adolescents and young adults, whose smoking habits are most vulnerable to social influences.

Both efforts seek to improve early detection of lung disease and to support smokers in quitting, using free services and public outreach to reduce tobacco‑related health burdens in Italy.