Cross-border cooperation in the prevention and complex treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases in Bekes-Timis counties

WHO data shows that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the no 1 cause of death globally with aprox 17.7 million cases in 2015 (31% of all global deaths). Also, CVDs are the no 1 cause of death on European level (45% of all European deaths) and on EU28 (37.1%), considerably higher than the second most prevalent cause of death, cancer (26.4 %) – Eurostat data. At regional level, official data show that serious efforts must be made to tackle this problem. According to 2014 data, gender imbalance on diseases of the circulatory system (ischaemic heart diseases, cardiovascular diseases, peripheral vascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, other diseases of CS) is relatively large in Romania (51.8% males; 65.9% females), Hungary (44.6% males; 54.6% females), Croatia and Poland. Even more, at EU28 level, RO has the 2nd rate of death of circulatory diseases (58% of deaths) and HU 5th rate (49.7% of deaths). CVDs are an important common territorial problem for the 2 counties in the project: deaths rate have diminished in the past year in Romania (RO) Western Reg, according to Nat Statistics Institute - NSI (from 13.994 in 2015 to 13.603 deaths in 2016, of which 4.043 in Timis Country). Hungary (HU) national data states that in Bekes the no of treated patients of diseases of the circulatory system (DofCS ) does not show significant fluctuation in the past three years. 3.063 persons in 2014, 3.097 in 2015 and 2.937 in 2016 received bed patient specialized care in the cardiology specialty. The counties are still confronting with high numbers of deaths & higher demand for modern and effective healthcare services related to CVDs.The main overall objective of the project is: Improving health-care services in 2 health-care institutions in Timis and Bekes counties for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases for the benefit of the population of the Timis-Bekes area in an inclusive and modern approach. The partnership of the project consists of 2 of the most important medical institutions in the Timis-Bekes area.The project will ensure access for the pop in the 2 counties (1040639 people) to modern diagnosis and treatment techniques, to modern medical equipment in 2 hospitals at the cross-border area of Timis-Bekes. Also, the project will create a network of improved preventive and curative healthcare services across the area of the project and a strengthened collaboration between 2 medical institutions: the Emergency Municipal Clinical Hospital Timișoara with the official service area in the Timis county and the Békés County Central Hospital with the official service area in the Bekes county.Specific Objective 1:Improving health-care infrastructure for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases at 2 health-care institutions in the Timis-Bekes areaSpecific Objective 2: Improving access of the population in the Timis-Bekes area to information regarding health and to quality medical services for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseasesMai results of the project:- improved healthcare infrastructure for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases in the Timis- Bekes area (SO1),- improved access of the population in the in the Timis-Bekes area to information regarding health and to quality medical services (SO2),Most important outputs of the project:- 6 departments affected by modernized equipment,- 1040639 people having access to improved health services (by having access to improved healthcare infrastructure and better care services provided by proffesionals working together in order to provide better services for the people in the official service area of the medical facilities)Output indicators:- No of health-care departments affected by modernized equipment. Project target value: 6 departments (15,78% of the total target value for the 9/a2 output indicator (38), 100% of the target value set for the this call of proposals (6)),- Pop. having access to improved health services. Project target value: 1,040,639 people persons (26,60% of the total target value for the 9/a1 output indicator (3,911,505 persons) and 171,64% of the target value set for the this call of proposals (606,283 persons)). The proportionality ratio of the project is in the highest category as mentioned in the quality assesement grid (more than 90%). The project contributes to the “Population having access to improved health services” environmental indicator.The project proposes a new, more innovative approach that addresses cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases in an integrated manner tackling it from both preventive and curative points of view and also from both infrastructure and know-how points of view.The project builds on relevant past experience of the partners (and of other organizations) in tackling the cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases challenge. All partners have had projects that addressed the need for better infrastructure and equipment, for improved medical staff abilities or more efficient knowledge transfer, but the integrated way this project approaches the medical problem is innovative and set to ensure a more coordinated effort and more visible improvements of healthcare services and access of population to medical care. Through the project, the two medical institutions will add to their endowments innovative and updated equipment and software that will facilitate better health care services for the populations of the two counties.Simplified action planpurchase of modern equipment (including innovative equipment such as: state of the art blood presure long term monitors, 3D imaging heart ultrasound, advanced defibrilation systems, updated angiographs, updated software etc.) - 6 departments will benefit –LP and PP1- organization of 4 joint workshops on cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases for medical staff- promotional actions for health screening and providing information to prevent and diagnose cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases in Timis and Bekes counties- awareness forums for the general public on lifestyle and the risk of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases- knowledge transfer on cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, including the development of two joint medical protocols- screening activities on cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases for the population in Bekes and TimisAs shown before, in the 2 counties are still confronting with high numbers of deaths & higher demand for modern and effective healthcare services related to these diseases. Thus, a synchronized and integrated approach is needed and the projects responds completely to the constraints and needs of the 2 counties.

Achieved: 1) Improved health-care infrastructure for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases at 2 health-care institution from Timis and Bekes county; 3 health-care departments affected by modernized equipment within Békés County Central Hospital and 3 health-care departments affected by modernized equipment within Emergency Municipal Clinical Hospital from Timisoara; 2) Improved know-how of the 40-medical staff of Bekes and Timis counties in screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases. 3) Increased awareness on lifestyle and the risk of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases through the 5000 copies of brochures disseminated in Bekes and Timis county and through awareness forums organized for more than 200 persons. 4) Improved access of the population in the Timis-Bekes area to information regarding health and quality medical services for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases. Finalized: 1) 4 joint workshops organized for more than 40 medical staff to improve their competencies in screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases; 2) 20 cases of cardiovascular/peripheral vascular diseases discussed among the joint medical council established within the project; 3) Modern equipment purchased for 3 health care departments of Békés County Central Hospital and 3 health care departments of the Emergency Municipal Clinical Hospital Timisoara; 4) 2 brochures elaborated by the medical experts (5000 copies) (one for RO population and one the HU ) with easy to understand information on screening and diagnosis of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases; more than 2500 copies distributed; 5) 4 awareness forums organized in Timis and Bekes county for more than 200 representatives, on lifestyle and the risk of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases; 6) more than 3000 cardio examinations free of charge, for counties population; 7) Two new protocols elaborated by the joint medical council were prepared within the project.

The Methodology for defining result indicators (annex to Ro-Hu Programme) sets the conditions that need to be in place to ensure improved preventive and curative health-care services (measured through the mentioned programme result indicator): 1. Basic diagnostic and curative equipment, having sufficient capacity and up to appropriate technological standards; 2. Specialized diagnostic and curative equipment, having sufficient capacity and up to appropriate technological standards; 3. Professional and support staff, with proper capacity and appropriate level of training; Main results and outputs of the project: Main result 1 (see SO1): improved healthcare infrastructure for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases. Important outputs for SO1: - 6 departments affected by modernized equipment Main result 1 and outputs for SO1 adresses conditions 1, 2. Main result 2 (see SO2): improved access of the population in the in the Timis-Bekes area to information regarding health and to quality medical services Important outputs for SO2: - 6 departments affected by modernized equipment - 1040639 people having access to improved health services (by having access to improved healthcare infrastructure and better care services provided by proffesionals working together in order to provide better services for the people in the official service area of the medical facilities) Main result 2 and outputs for SO2 adresses conditions 1, 2, 3. The project, its results and outputs link directly to the programme result indicator („average service level in health care institutions in the eligible area”) as they ensure better services related to cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases for the patients and will contribute directly to the achievement of the target value for the indicator: 3.40 (2023) as set by the programme that will be determined by surveys among hospitals and outpatient institutions.