Germany Launches Free Lung Cancer Screenings for High-Risk Smokers in April

Lung Cancer Screening Program Launches in April Under Statutory Health Insurance

Starting in April, Germany's statutory health insurance providers will offer a new early detection program for lung cancer. Heavy smokers—both current and former—will soon be eligible for an annual free screening. From April onward, those at risk will be entitled to a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan, though it may take some time before appointments are widely available across Berlin and Brandenburg. In some locations, however, the program is already underway.

At Berlin's Charité university hospital, appointments for the screening can already be booked. The pilot project began in the second week of March, and just one week later, radiologists had already examined the first 30 participants, according to Charité radiologist Jens Vogel-Claussen. Interested individuals can visit the Charité website to check their eligibility and schedule an appointment.

The Berlin Lung Cancer Center at Helios Klinikum Emil von Behring will also begin offering screenings in April, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Berlin Hospital Association (BKG). Additional hospitals plan to introduce the program as well. Vivantes, for instance, intends to provide screenings within its Medical Care Centers (MVZ) and at least three hospital locations. Once the necessary approvals are granted, the service is expected to launch promptly.

How General Practices Are Preparing

According to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Berlin, the screening will not be available in doctors' offices by the April 1 deadline. Physicians can refer eligible patients to radiology practices for the scan. "While the nationwide rollout may take a little more time, Berlin is well prepared," said spokesperson Kathrin Weiß. "Together with radiologists, we will do everything possible to implement this offering as soon as we can."

The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Brandenburg reports that several practices in Brandenburg also plan to offer the new service, though an exact number is not yet available. Once administrative and quality assurance processes are complete, the program will be gradually expanded.

Sandra Blumenthal-Beier, co-chair of the Berlin-Brandenburg Association of General Practitioners, notes that multiple training opportunities for family doctors are now available. However, relevant courses in the Berlin area have only been offered for a few weeks.

Who Qualifies for the Screening?

The new service, covered by statutory health insurance, is based on a decision by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) and the Lung Cancer Early Detection Ordinance issued by the Federal Ministry for the Environment. The G-BA is a governing body representing physicians, health insurers, hospitals, and other stakeholders.

Eligibility extends to current and former smokers between the ages of 50 and 75, as outlined by the G-BA. The program focuses solely on cigarette smokers—not users of other tobacco products—and aims to detect lung cancer early in this high-risk group.

To qualify, individuals must have smoked for at least 25 years without long interruptions and have a smoking history of at least 15 pack-years. Pack-years are calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked daily by the number of years spent smoking.

According to the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), around 56,500 people in Germany are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. For men, it remains the leading cause of cancer-related death, with approximately 28,000 fatalities annually, while for women, it is the second-most common, claiming 17,000 lives per year.