An inquiry into the feasibility of a national lung cancer screening program will focus on high-risk populations such as people living in rural areas and Indigenous Australians, Cancer Australia says.

Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt announced on World Lung Cancer Day in August that he had commissioned the organisation to review the potential for a screening program.

Cancer Australia said it planned to emphasise screening of people at increased risk — particularly rural populations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders — and will report to Mr Hunt by October 2020.

CEO Professor Dorothy Keefe said there was “growing evidence” to back a screening program.