New Lung Cancer Dashboard for Serbia

How does Serbia perform in lung cancer care compared to other European countries and international benchmarks?

This dashboard-style report provides a visual and quantitative description of selected performance indicators in lung cancer care. The analysis is based on both national and international databases.

Lung cancer care in Serbia is characterized by a high disease burden and substantial gaps compared with European benchmarks, but also by recent progress in selected areas. Key findings include:
• A very high lung cancer burden: Serbia’s incidence and mortality are both above the EU average. In 2024, lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer death in both men and for the first time also in women.
• Major opportunities for prevention remain: Smoking prevalence is among the highest in Europe, while Serbia also has a particularly high burden from air pollution – two important risk factors for lung cancer.
• Most lung cancers are still detected too late, but regional screening initiatives show promise: LDCT screening in Vojvodina has demonstrated the potential to shift diagnosis toward earlier stages since 2020.
• Access to diagnosis and treatment remains uneven: Patient pathways and waiting times differ between institutions, biomarker testing is concentrated in a small number of centers, and shortages of specialized healthcare professionals remain important constraints.
• Access to modern treatment and supportive care are below European standards: Availability and uptake of novel therapies lag behind international clinical guidelines, while palliative care capacity also remains limited.

For more information please contact Thomas Hofmarcher

Cancer Dashboard for Serbia – Lung Cancer, IHE 2026, Lund, Sweden

Cite: Scheidler E, Malmberg C, Hofmarcher T. Cancer Dashboard for Serbia – Lung Cancer, IHE 2026, Lund, Sweden