The national cancer plan did not only aim to cure patients from the disease but prevent them from getting it in the first place, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said.

“The emphasis is on prevention,” he said, highlighting the holistic view of disease that had been taken in addressing environmental and lifestyle causes of cancer such as smoking and alcohol consumption.

“Our efforts need to look beyond the health care system,” he said, pointing out the government was “investing heavily” in areas like air quality and renewable energy and was taking measures to promote healthy lifestyles.

The aim is to propose measures to clamp down on tobacco consumption. These include, among others, the introduction of smoking bans in children’s playgrounds, sports facilities and mass leisure events, prohibiting the consumption of food or drinks in designated smoking rooms, restricting the availability of cigarette vending machines and enforcing distance zones around educational facilities where tobacco cannot be retailed.

The plan also aims to tackle environmental factors by setting up systems to gather more information about occupational exposures to carcinogens and strengthening the capacity of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority to inspect and enforce a non-carcinogenic working environment.

However, the national cancer plan should not be seen in isolation but together with other initiatives taken by the ministry, said Natasha Muscat Azzopardi, the director general for strategy and sustainability within the Health Ministry.

Giving examples, she said a national obesity action plan was in the making, a non-communicable disease strategy was due to be implemented, the food and nutrition action plan needed to be adopted and national vaccination for the human papilloma virus (that causes cervical cancer) may be introduced.Talking about cancer prevention, which was a main topic during the cancer plan launch yesterday, Health Minister Joseph Cassar said: “Every one of us has the opportunity to reduce our chances of getting cancer.”

The national cancer plan would raise more awareness to help people live a healthier lifestyle, he said.