LEBANON (Enmaeya News) - December 21, 2025
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a national initiative aimed at strengthening lung cancer prevention, early detection, and care in Lebanon, according to the National News Agency (NNA).
The agreement aligns with the Ministry of Public Health’s National Cancer Plan 2023–2028 and seeks to improve health outcomes by expanding prevention efforts, raising public awareness, supporting early diagnosis, and reducing lung cancer–related mortality nationwide.
Under the MoU, the two parties will collaborate to ensure more equitable access to testing, diagnosis, treatment, and information for patients across Lebanon.
The partnership focuses on enhancing scientific and technological cooperation, supporting national awareness campaigns, building healthcare capacity, promoting early detection programs based on scientific evidence, and strengthening data collection to inform healthcare planning and policy decisions.
Minister of Public Health Dr. Rakan Nasreddine said AstraZeneca would serve as a scientific and technical partner in supporting national lung cancer programs, particularly in prevention, early detection, and data management.
He noted that the collaboration would strengthen the healthcare system’s capacity to address lung cancer within a transparent framework aligned with national priorities and public health policies.
AstraZeneca Near East and Maghreb President Rami Scandar said the partnership aims to establish a comprehensive lung cancer care system through public awareness, capacity building, and equitable access to early diagnosis and modern treatments, helping to reduce disparities in care across the country.
Dr. Arafat Tfayli, president of the committee overseeing the national cancer prevention plan, highlighted that Lebanon has the highest lung cancer incidence among females and the second highest among males in the Middle East and North Africa.
Lung cancer accounts for more than 9% of new cancer cases in Lebanon, driven largely by smoking, air pollution, and exposure to secondhand smoke.
The MoU outlines cooperation on awareness campaigns, diagnostic capacity building, pilot screening programs, and evidence generation, with implementation mechanisms subject to further detailed agreements in line with applicable laws and best practices.
