By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- Dedicated funding stream: Portugal will allocate 2% of annual tobacco tax revenue — about €33.5 million in 2026 — to smoking prevention and control programs.
- Screening prioritized: The largest share of funds (35%) will support population-based screening programs, including pilot lung cancer screening projects.
- Cessation and prevention focus: Funding will expand smoking cessation services, pharmacological therapies and national prevention initiatives.
Portugal will direct 2% of national tobacco tax revenue to smoking prevention and control efforts this year, a move expected to generate approximately €33.5 million (US$39.4 million) in 2026, according to a joint decree issued by the Ministries of Finance and Health and reported by Lusa.
The measure, included in the State Budget for 2026, states that smoking “continues to be one of the main preventable causes of morbidity and mortality in Portugal” and identifies reducing prevalence as a public health priority.
Funds will be transferred to the Central Administration of the Health System (Administração Central do Sistema de Saúde), which will allocate them across several national programs, including the National Program for the Prevention and Control of Tobacco Use, coordinated by the Directorate-General of Health (DGS).
The decree specifies that revenue will also support national programs targeting respiratory, oncological, and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as oral health and school health initiatives.
Pilot projects for lung cancer screening and early diagnosis will be developed within Local Health Units (ULS) of Portugal’s National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde, SNS).
A separate order from the Ministry of Health outlines how the funds will be distributed. The largest share — 35% — will go to implementing and expanding population-based screening programs. The National Oral Health Promotion Program will receive 22.5%, with the remaining funds allocated to other health priorities, ranging from 10% to 1%.
The decree also provides for expanded smoking cessation consultations and programs in primary and hospital care, including financing for pharmacological therapies through the SNS.
In practice, the policy provides direct funding for three priority areas: preventing tobacco use, providing stronger support for individuals seeking to quit smoking, and enabling earlier diagnosis of tobacco-related diseases.
