Prince’s Government to launch first national lung cancer screening programme on 1 November to mark Mois Sans Tabac

The programme will be open to all those aged 50 or over who are covered by social security schemes in the Principality.

To mark the ninth year of its November campaign against tobacco use, Mois sans Tabac, the Prince’s Government is launching a new, voluntary public health initiative: a national lung cancer screening programme for all those covered by the country’s social security schemes.

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death, and early screening can help to identify the disease at the early stages, when treatments are more effective, thus increasing the chances of recovery.

The campaign also aims to raise public awareness about the risks associated with tobacco use, and to promote prevention policies.

The screening programme is voluntary. It offers an opportunity to raise general public awareness about the dangers of tobacco, and to encourage people to stop smoking and monitor their health regularly. This is because the best way to improve prognosis continues to be early detection.  

In addition to the launch of the lung cancer screening programme, the Mois sans Tabac campaign will also seek to promote quit smoking efforts, in conjunction with health professionals.

The data gathered as part of this programme will also provide epidemiological data about lung cancer in the population as a whole, and will help to shape prevention and treatment policies in the Principality.

For Christophe Robino, the Minister of Health and Social Affairs, “lung cancer is a scourge, given its devastating impact on health. Too often, it is diagnosed at an advanced stage. When it is caught in time, the chances of recovery are much improved. This new national screening programme demonstrates the strong commitment and interest that the Prince’s Government has in health policy, for the benefit of both residents and employees in the Principality.

A letter will be sent to all of those aged 50 or over who are covered by Monaco’s social security schemes, so that all those concerned can get screened for free by means of a lung scan.

Please note that the specialist stop smoking consultation service provided by the Department of Health Affairs (DASA) at Princess Grace Hospital is free and can be accessed by telephoning +377.97.98.97.41.