From commitment to action

When member states adopted the first-ever World Health Organization resolution on integrated lung health in May 2025, it marked a turning point for global recognition of lung cancer as a public health priority. One year on, translating these global commitments into meaningful national policy change demands more deliberate action.

A strong global mandate but uneven progress

The resolution set a new standard for addressing lung health. It situated lung cancer alongside other communicable and non-communicable diseases (e.g. tuberculosis, COPD, asthma) with shared risk factors, such as tobacco use and air pollution. It then emphasised the need for coordinated approaches in prevention, earlier detection, treatment and dismantling stigma.

Over the past year, we have seen encouraging signs of engagement. Governments have referenced the resolution in national planning, and attention is shifting towards early detection and screening. However, structural barriers remain, hindering progress: limited investment in lung cancer within national cancer control plans, persistent stigma, insufficient capacity, and the absence of widespread and sustainable screening pathways.

The resolution has been used to highlight regional and national opportunities for action. However, progress has been uneven and often remains at the level of advocacy rather than implementation.
 

What must change to realise the resolution’s commitments

To shift from political recognition to measurable improvement for patients, countries need to adopt an implementation‑oriented approach. Three areas of opportunity stand out – all with strong evidence for cost-effectiveness and improved outcomes:

1. Make earlier detection a national priority, not an optional add‑on

Earlier detection is the single most impactful intervention for improving outcomes. The resolution reinforces the importance of earlier diagnosis, yet fewer than one in eight national cancer control plans include screening or early detection of lung cancer. Countries must embed evidence‑based early detection into those plans, with a pathway towards risk-based low‑dose computed tomography screening programmes. Screening must be supported by clear eligibility criteria, robust onward referral pathways, and investment in workforce and infrastructure capacity.

2. Build integrated care pathways

Structured pathways that cover every aspect of lung cancer care are essential for ensuring that earlier detection translates into improved survival and better overall experiences of care.

3. Dismantle stigma and inequities

Stigma continues to suppress political prioritisation and, most importantly, discourages people from seeking care.

Proven approaches to dismantling stigma (such as awareness campaigns) should be implemented alongside cost-effective interventions e.g. tobacco‑dependence treatment and smoking cessation support. Focusing on equity is particularly important to ensure those programmes meet the needs of groups who are underserved by the health system but are disproportionately impacted by lung cancer.
 

Turning momentum into measurable progress

The past year has shown promising political engagement. But without adequate actions and financing, progress will be slow.

Forthcoming WHO technical guidance and assessments arising from the commitments in the resolution hold promise for further action. As we enter the second year since adoption, closing the funding and implementation gap is the most important step governments can take to realise the promise of the lung health resolution.