During the launch of the National Cancer Plan 2023-2028, Caretaker Public Health Minister Firass Abiad stated that cancer poses a significant burden in Lebanon, aided by the prevalence of risk factors such as the smoking epidemic affecting 50 to 70 percent of citizens, environmental pollution, and others, as the country records some of the highest rates of certain types of cancer, such as lung and bladder cancer, and smoking-related cancers.  

He affirmed, in his speech, that cancer affects not only individuals afflicted with the disease but also their families, friends, and the fabric of society as a whole, adding that the battle against cancer extends beyond the struggle at the individual level to impact the healthcare system, the economy, and public well-being.