With lung cancer being a significant cause of mortality in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, particularly due to late-stage diagnoses, the need for effective screening programs is evident. Despite the lack of existing screening programmes in the region, trial evidence suggests that low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening can substantially reduce lung cancer mortality rates by detecting cancers at earlier stages. Health economic models demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of such screening programmes, with most studies supporting biennial screening for high-risk populations. Such models are useful for demonstrating not just value for money, but in defining the important considerations of systems capacity and budget impact. Aligning with national cancer strategies and the Ireland – Northern Ireland – NCI Cancer Consortium, our project aims to leverage existing lung screening models to define systems capacity and budget impact implications for Irish and Northern Irish populations. Through collaboration with key stakeholders and harnessing existing expertise, our research seeks to inform evidence-based screening programmes and optimise resource allocation to maximise their impact on reducing the burden of lung cancer in the region.
