Tumours, 105,000 diagnoses a year due to smoking: 18,000 Italians have already agreed to increase cigarettes by EUR 5

35% of the 50,000 signatures required to present the popular initiative bill to Parliament have been reached: an important result, but further effort is needed, as Aiom and the Aiom Foundation, which promoted the initiative with the Airc and Veronesi Foundations, warn

by Health Review

4 February 2026

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Eighteen thousand signatures collected in just over 10 days. This is 35% of the 50,000 needed to submit the popular initiative bill to Parliament, to increase the cost of all smoking and nicotine inhaling products by 5 euros. All citizens over the age of 18 can sign, by going to the Ministry of Justice platform and using the SPID, CIE (Electronic Identity Card) or CNS (National Services Card). The campaign, the first of its kind ever realised in Italy, is promoted by Aiom (Italian Association of Medical Oncology), Airc Foundation for Cancer Research, Umberto Veronesi Foundation and Aiom Foundation. On World Cancer Day, the scientific societies and patient associations participating in the initiative are launching an appeal to sign, in order to reach the required 50,000 signatures as soon as possible. The main objective of the campaign is to combat smoking.

The harms of smoking

Every year in Italy, around 105,000 cases of cancer, 27% of the total, are caused by smoking. Secondly, the campaign wants to find resources for the National Health Service. In order to ensure the high quality and sustainability of the system and access to innovative treatments for all, it is necessary to invest more in prevention. It is estimated that more than 40% of cancer deaths are due to modifiable risk factors, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet, overweight and obesity. In 2023, Italy allocated 4.6 per cent of its total health expenditure to prevention, a percentage that is lower than those of the United Kingdom (5.6 per cent), the Netherlands (5.2 per cent) and Germany (4.8 per cent) when considering European countries.

Decisive prevention

"The '5 euro against smoking' campaign is in line with the aims of the Day Against Cancer, which include information on risk factors," explains Massimo Di Maio, President of Aiom. In just a few days since the initiative was launched, thousands of citizens have signed up. Around 30 scientific societies and more than 15 patient associations and foundations have joined in. We are satisfied, but further effort is needed to reach the required 50,000 signatures. Tobacco smoking is the main cancer risk factor. Not forgetting other unhealthy lifestyles. Alcohol consumption is correlated with 7 types of carcinoma and severe excess weight with 12. Despite this evidence, in Italy 24% of adults smoke, 33% are overweight and 10% obese, 58% consume alcohol and 27% are sedentary. Prevention is the tool to reduce the number of cancer cases and to support increased outlays for innovative treatments'.

Life-saving innovation

"In 2024, in Italy, public spending on anti-cancer drugs amounted to EUR 5.4 billion, an increase of 13.8 per cent compared to 2023, representing almost 20 per cent of total public pharmaceutical spending," Di Maio continues. Innovation is not just a cost, but translates into lives saved'. In our country, in 2026 compared to the period 2020-2021, a decrease in cancer mortality rates of 17.3% in men and 8.2% in women is estimated. These figures are better when compared to the European average (-7.8% in men and -5.9% in women in 2026 compared to the period 2020-2022). "In Italy, 63% of women and 54% of men are alive five years after diagnosis and at least one patient in four has returned to having the same life expectancy as the general population and can be considered cured," the Aiom president emphasises. Anti-cancer therapies are characterised by increasingly specific mechanisms of action. The transition towards innovative treatments of high complexity, such as immunotherapy and drug-conjugated antibodies, offers options that can improve survival and chances of cure in an increasing number of clinical situations, but raises issues related to the sustainability of the National Health Service. The availability of new strategies also creates the need for specific guidelines to establish the correct sequencing of these drugs'.

The theme of "World Cancer Day" is "United by Unique", to raise awareness among citizens, patients and institutions to consider the uniqueness of every person affected by cancer, guaranteeing care that takes into account the emotional, psychological and social aspects linked to the disease. Aiom and the Aiom Foundation, who organised the 'World Cancer Day' conference in Rome, are joining the World Cancer Day. Globally, new cancer cases have more than doubled since 1990, reaching 18.5 million in 2023, and cancer deaths have increased by 74% to 10.4 million.

Beds and staff are needed

"In 10 years, in Italy, 1,091 public beds in medical oncology have been cut: in 2013 there were 5,234, reduced to 4,143 in 2023," Di Maio goes on to say. "In 30 per cent of centres there is still a lack of oncological home care, and more than half of the facilities (52 per cent) lack clinical research coordinators, who are essential figures for conducting trials. Important aspects of care, such as clinical psychology and clinical nutrition, also remain suboptimal in many settings. In addition to more modern beds and hospitals, more doctors and nurses are needed. The shortage of specialists is also affecting oncology, albeit to a lesser extent than in other specialities. Moreover, the Regional Oncology Networks, which are currently only active in about half of the regions, must be set up throughout the territory. Only in this way can multidisciplinary collaboration be guaranteed throughout the treatment pathway'.

Stop the red tape

'In 2025, around 390,000 new cases of cancer are estimated in Italy, with a substantial stability compared to 2024,' says Rossana Berardi, President-elect of Aiom. 'Fortunately, the number of people alive after diagnosis is increasing. On the other hand, this positive result has an impact on those who care for them. The optimal management of the oncology patient is a team effort that involves health workers and caregivers, and to really put the person at the centre we must also protect the caregiver: today, according to available data, oncologists spend more than half of their time on bureaucratic and administrative activities, taking energy away from the relationship and the quality of the visit. And this is not a detail: the well-being of practitioners is a public health priority, so much so that it is estimated that up to 8 out of 10 young oncologists are affected by burnout. In parallel, we must give structural recognition to the role of family caregivers, who in Italy number about 7 million and represent an essential part of the care pathway. This is why it is important that the caregiver bill, approved by the government on 12 January 2026 and now under parliamentary discussion, quickly arrives at concrete protections'.

The effects on psyche and work

Cancer also has negative consequences on mental health. 20% of people with cancer are affected by depression, 10% by anxiety and over 50% develop psychological distress. The impact on productivity is also significant. It is estimated that cancer prevents at least 1.1 million citizens in Europe from participating in the world of work. Men and women diagnosed with cancer are, respectively, 7% and 10% less likely to be employed than people without cancer. "Financial difficulties, associated with reduced income after a cancer diagnosis, can negatively affect patients' mental health, quality of life and survival," concludes Francesco Perrone, President of the Aiom Foundation. Moreover, lack of employment or reduced income can lead to social isolation, limiting the development of personal and professional skills. Cancer patients need time for treatments and doctor's visits. And the side effects of therapies may affect the ability to perform professional activities, especially during periods of active treatment. All these factors affect job performance, skill acquisition, career progression and income. An all-round approach to cancer care must also consider these aspects'.