Germany's Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has approved lung cancer screening as a benefit for people covered by statutory health insurance providers.
The policy is due to go into effect in April 2026, provided the country's Federal Ministry of Health confirms the decision, according to the G-BA. Under the policy, insured individuals between the ages of 50 and 75 who have smoked for at least 25 years and who are either current smokers or those who quit smoking less than 10 years ago will be able to undergo an annual lung examination using low-dose CT.
"The G-BA has closely aligned its content with the ministerial lung cancer screening regulation of July 2024," said Bernhard van Treeck, MD, member of the G-BA.
"To ensure the medical benefit of the screening, strict quality assurance requirements are in place: for example, special qualifications for the participating radiologists and for the second interpretation of findings requiring follow-up and clarification. False-positive findings can lead to unnecessary additional examinations. Furthermore, there is a possibility that tumors may be discovered that would not have caused any symptoms in the person. Such so-called overdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary treatments," he noted.
The G-BA will now submit its decision to the Federal Ministry of Health for legal review. Further information can be found on the organization's website.
