A national screening program for lung cancer is a step closer after health officials endorsed a revised plan to screen current and former smokers aged 50-70.

After rejecting an initial lung cancer screening proposal earlier this year, the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) has approved a lower age range for screening, along with stricter eligibility criteria for ex-smokers.

The decision to set up a screening program now rests with the Federal Government, which said on Thursday it would “consider the advice and respond in due course”.

The original screening proposal drawn up by Cancer Australia involved screening non-Indigenous patients aged 55-74 and Indigenous patients aged 50-74 with low-dose CT every two years, based on a GP’s assessment of their smoking history, family history, ethnicity and other factors.