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Scorecard results

Indicator Range Score Justification

Lung cancer is a strategic priority

1 Operational,

comprehensive, up to

date national cancer

control plan

0 – 5 1  An operational National Cancer Control Plan was published by the Federal Ministry of

Health in 2014.^7

 There is no mention of an implementation plan or a funding source.

 A specific lung cancer control plan has neither been published nor discussed by the

government or health ministry.

2 Comprehensive clinical

guidelines for lung

cancer

0 – 6 5  The Austrian Cancer Aid and Austrian Society of Pulmonology published lung cancer

guidelines in 2017.^8 Austria has also adopted the guidelines that were authored by the

German Society of Pneumology and Respiratory Medicine that were published in 2018.^9

 Guidelines mention diagnosis, treatment and supportive / palliative care.

 Shared decision making is not covered in the guidelines published by the Austrian Society

of Pulmonology but it is covered in the guidelines published by the German Society.

 Guidelines do not mention screening.

Lung cancer is a public health issue

3 Tobacco control policies

and public health

measures

0 – 9 7  National objectives on tobacco control and a national agency for tobacco control exist.^10

 Austria is party to WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

 At least one national mass media campaign ran during the survey period (up to 2016).

 Advertising is banned on national TV and radio.

 Law mandates that health warnings appear on tobacco packages.

 In July 2019, Austria voted to ban smoking inside bars and restaurants: the law is to be

effective from 1 November 2019.

 National smoke-free legislation does not exist for indoor offices or public transportation.

4 E-cigarettes regulation

and public health

measures

0 – 4 4  Safety, quality standards and regulation are in place for e-cigarettes.

 As of 1 January 2019, sales of e-cigarettes are prohibited to people under 18 years of age.

 There are provisions that restrict the use of the packaging for advertisement or

promotional purposes, as well as advertising, promotion and sponsorship in print and

media.

 E-cigarettes are banned in public places where tobacco is prohibited and in private vehicles

when someone under 18 is present.

5 National policies

and programmes for

environmental exposure

control

0 – 2 2  Austria has a Climate and Energy Strategy that was implemented in 2018.

 WHO states that Austria has a radon control programme.

6 Evidence-based

approach to lung cancer

screening

0 – 1 0  No data found to show that Austria has conducted a lung cancer screening study or trial.

7 Patient organisations

involvement in policy

development

0 – 3 0  A specific lung cancer patient organisation has not been identified in Austria.

 There is no clear evidence to suggest that patients were represented in clinical guideline

development.

 Patient organisations are not involved in Health Technology Assessment (HTA)

Lung cancer is a race against time

8 Suspected lung cancer

patient diagnosis within

a specific time frame

0 – 2 2  Fast tracking is not covered in the guidelines published by the Austrian Society of

Pulmonology but it is covered in the guidelines published by the German Society.

 The Austrian guidelines do not mention a specific timeframe for diagnostic referral in

suspected lung cancer patients but the German Society ’s guidelines state that the aim to

diagnose lung cancer within 2 months.