Campaign for Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention

The campaign “5 Minutes for HEALTH” is an innovative initiative aimed at the prevention of lung cancer and combating smoking.

Organized by the Regional Health Inspectorates (RHI) in participating cities and the Bulgarian Cluster for Digital Solutions and Innovations in Healthcare, in partnership with the Association “Air for Health,” Hubis, and Roche Bulgaria, the campaign offers free telemedical examinations and conversations with specialists in pulmonary diseases (pulmonologists). The campaign is scheduled to take place in over 8 cities across the country until the end of 2024. Its goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle through the use of modern technologies.

What will residents find at these locations in over 8 cities in Bulgaria?

• Free 5-minute telemedical examination
  People will have the opportunity to conduct a short yet effective examination at a special telemedicine station in their city. The examination includes measuring height, weight, body mass index, blood sugar, lung function (spirometry), temperature, blood pressure, ECG, heart rate, and saturation.
• Conversation about lung cancer prevention
  Participants will receive valuable information on how to protect themselves from lung cancer. Our specialists will provide advice on early detection of symptoms and health protection measures. Early detection is key to successful treatment.
• Combating smoking
  People will receive guidelines and support from experts on how to quit smoking and improve their quality of life. Smoking is a major risk factor for lung cancer and many other diseases.
• Consultation with a pulmonary specialist (pulmonologist)
  Participants will have the opportunity to talk to an experienced pulmonologist who will provide professional advice and answer questions related to lung health.

The role of technology in disease prevention

Technologies have the potential to play a key role in disease prevention and early diagnosis. The Bulgarian Cluster for Digital Solutions and Innovations in Healthcare has been supporting a network of Bulgarian technology companies for six years, developing and providing opinions on national policies for the digitization of our healthcare system with the aim of implementing technological solutions for the prevention of socially significant diseases. Our organization is implementing a project to create a model for the introduction of telemedicine in Bulgarian healthcare. Learn more here.

More about lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world. Every year, more people die from this disease than from breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer combined. Globally, 1.59 million people die from the disease each year, and 2.2 million people are diagnosed annually, which is 11.4% of all cancer cases. Data shows that 64% of diagnosed cases of the disease are at an advanced stage. One of the risk factors for the development of this oncological disease is smoking, which is associated with approximately 80% of all diagnosed cases. Other risk factors include polluted environment and air, exposure to radon and asbestos, and existing lung diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Start of the campaign

The campaign will begin on World No Tobacco Day – May 31, 2024, in Sofia.

Dates and cities for the next stops on the campaign can be followed on our pages on Facebook and LinkedIn.