HOPE Foundation and Top Taiwanese Lung Cancer Experts Call for a Collaborative Strategy on Early Screening, Precision Diagnostics, and Prompt Treatment

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 August 2025 – Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related fatalities worldwide. Nevertheless, promising advancements are emerging. In Taiwan, the National Lung Cancer Early Detection Program has markedly boosted the proportion of early-stage lung cancer diagnoses. In this context, the HOPE Foundation for Cancer Care, a prominent cancer advocacy organization in Taiwan, recently organized a press conference titled “Healthy Taiwan, Leading the World – Ushering in a New Era of Early Screening and Treatment of Lung Cancer.” Esteemed government officials, ten leading lung cancer medical authorities, and notable experts from major medical institutions gathered to chart the course for the next phase of lung cancer prevention and control strategies. They collectively highlighted the necessity of harmonizing early screening, precise diagnostics, and timely treatment to improve early detection and intervention efforts. The overarching aim is to assist Taiwan in achieving its ambitious target of reducing cancer mortality by one-third by 2030, potentially establishing a new benchmark in global cancer control.

Taiwan’s proactive approach to lung cancer prevention has earned international acclaim for its vision and effectiveness. In July 2022, the government launched the Lung Cancer Early Detection Program, providing biannual low-dose CT (LDCT) screenings to high-risk groups, such as individuals with a familial history of lung cancer and heavy smokers. This groundbreaking initiative has positioned Taiwan as a global exemplar in lung cancer prevention. Over the past three years, more than 210,000 screenings have resulted in the identification of 2,506 lung cancer cases—over 80% of which were diagnosed at an early stage, significantly decreasing late-stage diagnoses from previous rates.

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During a recent visit, Dr. Cary Adams, CEO of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), commended Taiwan’s National Cancer Control Program, extensive cancer registry, and robust National Health Insurance (NHI) system, which collectively create an exemplary cancer care framework. He urged Taiwan to enhance early lung cancer screening rates and guarantee timely access to treatments, solidifying its position as a leader in global public health. At the conference, Minister of Health and Welfare Dr. Chiu Tai-Yuan pledged ongoing inter-ministerial collaboration and innovation in policy to promote the early detection and treatment of lung cancer. Legislator Wang Cheng-Hsu also committed to advocating for early detection and intervention, supporting increased resources and improved legislation to ensure comprehensive care for early-stage lung cancer patients.

Leading medical experts underscored the advancements in Taiwan. Dr. Yang, Pan-Chyr, an Academician of Academia Sinica, remarked that the LDCT screening initiative has notably influenced the trend towards earlier-stage diagnoses, with studies indicating it could lower lung cancer mortality by 53%. Dr. Chen Chien-Jen, another Academician of Academia Sinica, pointed out that the next major challenge lies in ensuring early-stage patients access precision diagnostics and timely treatments. Dr. Yang Cheng-Ta, President of the Taiwan Lung Cancer Society, added that emerging AI technologies can now analyze LDCT images to anticipate an individual’s six-year cancer risk, aiding in better identification of high-risk groups and supporting early interventions. Dr. Yang Chih-Hsin, President of the Taiwan Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, urged early-stage patients to quickly undergo genetic testing to enable customized treatment plans, which may include surgery, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy as complementary options.

HOPE has urged that NHI resources be allocated toward the early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, highlighting the critical need for genetic testing and adjuvant therapy for high-risk early-stage patients to help reduce relapse and mortality rates. Clinical research indicates that adjuvant targeted therapy following surgery for stage IB–IIIA lung cancer with EGFR mutations can lead to a 10% decrease in five-year mortality, crucial for improving patient outcomes and relieving pressure on the healthcare system. Dr. Chen Jin-Shing, Head of the Thoracic Surgery Division at National Taiwan University Hospital, advocated for prioritizing reimbursement for adjuvant targeted therapies for stage IB-IIIA lung cancer patients, while Dr. Chen Chih-Yi, a Board Member of HOPE, stressed the importance of increasing the accessibility of early genetic testing and treatments. Dr. Huang, Ming-Shyan, President of the Taiwan Clinical Oncology Society, pointed out that early-stage lung cancer treatments in Taiwan do not yet align fully with international standards, advocating for enhanced screening efforts to be coupled with optimized NHI resource allocation and improved treatment access.

Other esteemed voices echoed the need for comprehensive care. Dr. Wang Chin-Chou, a Board Member of the Taiwan Society of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, emphasized that while surgery is the primary intervention for early-stage lung cancer, it should be complemented by proactive adjuvant therapy strategies and thorough long-term follow-up care. Dr. Chang Wen-Cheng, CEO of the Taiwan Cancer Foundation, insisted that the integration of screening, diagnosis, and treatment is essential to fully unlock the potential of early detection and intervention, maximizing the effectiveness of the screening program. Dr. Chen Jen-Shi, President of the Taiwan Oncology Society, suggested that in addition to current funding through NHI and the Cancer Drug Fund, the government should promote diverse payment mechanisms—such as co-payment models or commercial insurance—to enhance access to early lung cancer treatment.

Uniting a coalition of lung cancer treatment experts from medical institutions across Taiwan, a collaborative initiative aims to usher in a new era of early lung cancer screening and treatment. (Listed by institution from North to South)
· Dr. Chen Yu-Min, Director of the General Chest Medicine Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital
· Dr. Lee Kang-Yun, Attending Physician, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital
· Dr. Huang Chun-Yao, Attending Physician, Division of Chest Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital
· Dr. Tsai Chen-Liang, Director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Division, Tri-Service General Hospital
· Dr. Yeh Yu-Wen, Physician, Division of Thoracic Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital
· Dr. Chang Sheng-Yu, Attending Physician and Leader of the Lung Cancer Team, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
· Dr. Yang Tsung-Ying, Director of the General Chest Medicine Department, Taichung Veterans General Hospital
· Dr. Hsia Te-Chun, Deputy Director, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital
· Dr. Lin Chien-Chung, Attending Physician, Division of Chest Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital

Hashtag: #HOPEFoundation

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