OBJECTIVES: Before introducing the national lung cancer screening pilot programme in the Czech Republic (LCS), it was necessary to assess the potential effects, including an economic evaluation. This analysis was one of the key elements supporting the decision on introducing the programme.

METHODS: An economic evaluation of the costs and benefits was developed based on the data from the Czech National Health Information System, NELSON study results and the European health interview survey national data. LCS involves a three-step process: a visit to a general practitioner, an examination by a pneumologist and a low dose CT (LDCT) examination performed by a radiologist. Within the five-year pilot LCS, each participant (men and women aged 55–74 years with smoking history) should complete this process three times.

RESULTS: A model calculation of the effectiveness of the programme was based on simulated results of 1,000 persons who participated in all three rounds of LCS. A total of 3,251 LDCTs were performed; the cost during the pilot period was estimated at 330,000 EUR for these 1,000 participants. In the modelled cohort, it is estimated that 32 lung cancers can be detected through screening. Of which 16 are estimated to be operable, leading to a significantly prolonged survival, compared to the cohort of patients diagnosed clinically. Years of life saved were estimated to 102 years thanks to LCS, the cost per 1 year of life saved is 5,900 EUR.

CONCLUSIONS: LCS appears to be cost-effective in the Czech national context, based on the results of an economic evaluation. These results facilitated the decision and preparatory process leading to the introduction of the Czech LCS pilot.