Preparing for the National Lung Cancer Screening Program

Lung cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Australia and the leading cause of cancer death. The National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) will commence July 2025 to address this serious health issue.  

General practitioners (GPs) will play a crucial role in the NLCSP by assessing patient eligibility and referring eligible patients for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans.

Eligibility criteria

Patients will be eligible to participate in the program if they:

  • are aged 50-70

  • show no signs or symptoms suggestive of lung cancer (for example persistent cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath)

  • have a history of at least 30 pack-years of cigarette smoking and are still smoking or quit in the past 10 years. 

Preparing your practice

To ensure readiness for the program, general practices are encouraged to:

  1. Review program information
    Visit the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website for detailed guidance on the NLCSP: health.gov.au/nlcsp.

  2. Register with the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR)
    Access the NCSR to integrate it into your practice systems. Visit the NCSR website (ncsr.gov.au) for user guides and walkthrough videos.

  3. Identify eligible patients
    Begin reviewing and updating smoking histories in your clinical records to identify patients who may qualify for the program starting July 2025.

Support for general practices

For support with the NLCSP, please contact your MPHN Primary Care Engagement Officer.

Margot Schoonmaker