International Day of Action for Women’s Health: EU4Health projects on breast and cervical cancer and gynaecological surgery

28 May marks International Day of Action for Women's Health. Discover three examples of EU4Health projects that are working to improve women’s health in Europe.

The EUCervScreen_QA project (European Cervical Screening QA Update) is working on the update of the current quality assurance (QA) schemes and clinical practice guidelines for cervical screening in Europe. It will lead to the Commission’s initiative on cervical cancer (ECICvC), which will provide independent, evidence-based data and support EU policies to improve cervical screening and HPV vaccination. The guideline development process will be transparent and provide a clear explanation of relationships between alternative care options and their health outcomes.

The ELISAH project aims to reduce the burden of breast cancer by acting on modifiable risk factors. Designed as a holistic initiative, the project will study environmental pollution, built environment, exposure to unhealthy nutrition, lack of physical activity and alcohol and tobacco use. It will build up a multidisciplinary working group involving epidemiologists, clinicians, statisticians, public health professionals, psychologists, physicists and engineers. ELISAH will conduct a Europe-wide analysis of national cancer plans, breast cancer rates and risk factor distribution and develop innovative actions to overcome the current limits in prevention: a web-based tool to stimulate lifestyle changes, measures to increase risk factor awareness and breast cancer screening for displaced people in Ukraine and a gap analysis and action for the built environment in three European cities.

The GESEA4EU project aims to develop standardised learning modules which are applicable and recognised across Europe as part of the GESEA (Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgical Education and Assessment) programme. This programme is well established and already provides certification to gynaecological surgeons, but the training itself is less standardised across Europe. GESEA4EU is a key step for the GESEA programme to fulfil its mission of providing necessary training in endoscopy, advanced imaging techniques and robotics to surgeons and other healthcare professionals, including nurses and supporting non-clinical staff. 

During the project, 27 learning modules are being developed and trials are taking place in 12 centres within the existing network. Furthermore, 9 new centres are being identified in EU countries where the learning modules will be piloted. These modules will be taken up in the GESEA programme to be implemented across Europe and will be promoted through the European Board & College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Background

EU4Health is the fourth and largest of the EU health programmes. The EU4Health programme goes beyond an ambitious response to the COVID-19 crisis to address the resilience of European healthcare systems. The programme provides funding to national authorities, health organisations and other bodies through grants and public procurement, contributing to a healthier Europe.

HaDEA manages the vast majority of the total EU4Health budget and implements the programme by managing calls for proposals and tenders from 2021 to 2027.