Over the past 20 years, lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer death in Taiwan. According to international studies, 70% of lung cancer deaths can be attributed to "smoking." Therefore, the core mechanism for lung cancer prevention in Taiwan has focused on tobacco control, and the Tobacco Hazard Prevention Act has been implemented since 1997. Even the smoking population in Taiwan has decreased in recent years, lung cancer cases continue to increase annually, with the increase among women significantly higher than that of men, and more than 90% of these cases have no history of smoking, indicating that risk factors for lung cancer among non-smokers have become a key area in Taiwan's lung cancer prevention.
However, lung cancer-related researches subsidized by the competent authority, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (hereinafter referred to as the MOHW), have not included causes of lung cancer in non-smoking women, nor have the MOHW established relevant prevention strategies. Referring to the purpose of 'Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)', that is, health policies should be based on reliable data classified by gender, and preventive and therapeutic measures should be formulated accordingly, the CY issued an investigation report requesting the MOHW and relevant agencies propose countermeasures to clarify risk factors for lung cancer caused by different genders, develop preventive measures beyond tobacco control, strengthen health education, and improve screening effectiveness.
The MOHW has made improvements by including individuals who have not yet been considered for lung cancer screening (non-smokers without a family history) in its 2026 research plan, with the aim of identifying high-risk individuals and expanding lung cancer screening rates. Additionally, the National Science and Technology Council will also strengthen researches on causes and prevention of lung cancer in non-smoking women, and will provide the results to the MOHW as references for policy implementation.