ORALERT 2025: Equal access to innovative screening solutions for oral HPV

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A IPA Romania Serbia

Date of latest update: 2026-01-22

Description

Description (EN):

The project is designed around a solid RO-RS cross-border partnership between the "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara as Lead Partner and General Hospital „Đorđe Joanović” Zrenjanin as Project Partner, aiming to improve the overall health outcomes and well-being of the target group by reducing the incidence of HPV-related oral diseases in the programme’s eligible area, namely in Timis, a Romanian county, and in Srednjobanatska oblast (Central Banat) a district in Serbia. The project addresses punctual common challenges with reference to certain situations in which both partners fail to meet patients' expectations: 1. Lack of awareness & cross-border medical threats; 2. Limited capacity of healthcare providers; 3. Shortage of healthcare digitalization. The project`s approach in addressing these common challenges: 1.& 2. The project will develop joint events to increase awareness of HPV and the importance of early detection and treatment among the general public. To address the limited capacity of healthcare providers, the project will provide training and support to increase their capacity to further provide innovative screening solutions to the project target group, aged 18- 24. 3. By implementing telemedicine services, the project will aim to improve access to healthcare services and reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment. One key innovation of the project is the development of a new mobile application for remote oral diagnosis. This app will enable patients to receive a preliminary diagnosis remotely, without having to travel to a healthcare facility. The overall objective of the project: To improve the quality of HPV-oral-related healthcare services and outcomes for a target group of 4.300 patients/persons aged 18-24, by enhancing awareness, targeting 4 investments in endowment of healthcare facilities for cross-border medical threats and building the screening capacity of 30 healthcare providers to use innovative techniques through joint training activities, as well as developing and implementing of actions to support digitalization through a mobile app. The expected change that the ORALERT project will make to the current situation is to improve the quality of HPV-oral-related healthcare services and outcomes, mainly for young adults aged 18- 24. This will be achieved by: - increased detection rate in a much shorter time through the innovative methods used; - enhancing awareness among the general public; - targeted investments in endowment of healthcare facilities for cross-border medical threats; - building the screening capacity of healthcare providers through know-how exchange and joint training activities to use superior screening techniques; - support digitalization through the development and implementation of a mobile app. Project main outputs clearly link to Priority 2, SO 2.2, Output Indicator and Result Indicator, as follows: 1. PSO 03 - Investments in health care, family-based and community-based care services: 4 investments representing 14% of the target value under this call 2. PSR 03 - Annual users of the supported investments in health care, family-based and community-based care services: 4.300 patients/persons benefiting from the supported investments in health care, family-based and community-based care services, representing 43% of the target value under this call, out of which: a) 3.000 persons in the project area benefiting from targeted awareness-raising activities, meaning a change in the target audience's knowledge and belief regarding HPV-related oral cancer, by providing them with accurate and relevant information on the topic, in order to engage in preventative behaviors, seek early diagnosis, and support, reducing the incidence and impact of HPV-related oral cancer in the project area; b) 1.200 persons aged 18-24 in the project area benefiting from innovative screening solutions for oral HPV; c) 100 app users, who have downloaded and are actively using the mobile application developed for oral telemedicine during project implementation period; It is estimated that during the durability period at least 100 persons/annually, 500 in total, will have access to screening and 50 users/annually, 250 in total, will be registered to the mobile app (Final target - 2029). ORALERT is unique and original in several ways. Firstly, it focuses specifically on improving the quality of HPV-oral-related healthcare services for young people aged 18-24, a group that is often underserved and overlooked in terms of oral health. Secondly, the project takes a cross-border approach, recognizing that oral health issues do not stop at national borders and require collaboration between different countries and healthcare systems. Thirdly, the project combines various approaches, such as awareness-raising, investment in healthcare facilities, capacity building for healthcare providers, and digitalization, in a comprehensive and integrated manner to achieve its objectives.

Expected Achievements (EN):

To increase awareness and outcomes of HPV among at least 3000 people aged 18-24 in the eligible programme area, enhance the capacity of healthcare providers to effectively diagnose oral HPV among 1200 screened individuals, through innovative and efficient diagnostic methods, as well as invest in endowment of healthcare facilities, including in high-tech equipment, and also to increase access to HPV-oral-related healthcare services and outcomes for 100 users, particularly for underserved and remote populations, by developing and implementing of actions to support digitalization. The mobile app solution will provide a means for 100 patients to receive virtual consultations with oral health professionals, access educational resources on oral health, and schedule in-person appointments with local oral health providers. By improving access to oral health services, the project will ultimately contribute to reducing the incidence and impact of HPV-related oral cancer in the target population.

Project outputs: RO Medical equipment and supplies(EN)
RS Medical equipment and supplies(EN)

Thematic information

Innovation capacity and awareness-raising Education and training Knowledge and technology transfer

Priority: (VI-A_RO-SR_2) Social and economic development

Priority specific objective: RSO4.5. Ensuring equal access to health care and fostering resilience of health systems, including primary care, and promoting the transition from institutional to family-based and community-based care

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO4 A more social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights

Type of intervention: 129 Health equipment

Partners (2)

Lead Partner: Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie ”Victor Babeș” din Timișoara

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 997902051

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4269215 | 4269215 | N/A (EN)

Department: Propedeutics and Dental Materials

Address: Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania

Department address: Revolutiei 1989 Blvd., 300070 Timisoara, Romania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://www.umft.ro/

Total budget: EUR 1 336 364.19

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 1 135 909.56

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 200 454.63

Contractors:

Name: SC KING MOB SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: RO15446584
Name: SC DANTE INTERNATIONAL SA
VAT registration or tax identification number: RO14399840
Name: SC ZETMAN KRAFT SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: RO33028695
Name: SC NOVAINTERMED SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: RO6220293
Name: SC DENTOTAL PROTECT SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: RO6812309
Name: SC TEHNICAL DENT SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: RO11758273
Name: SC AQUATOR SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: RO15651244
Name: SC ALEREB SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: RO27666605
Name: Insight Group SRL
VAT registration or tax identification number: RO16674319

Opšta bolnica "Đorđe Joanović" u Zrenjaninu

Name: Opšta bolnica "Đorđe Joanović" u Zrenjaninu

Department: E.N.T.

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 105539565 | N/A | 08887535 (EN)

Address: Dr. Vase Savića, 23101 Zrenjanin, Serbia

Department address: Serbia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Hospitals and medical centres

Website: http://bolnica.org.rs/

Total budget: EUR 606 057.46

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 515 148.84

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 90 908.62

Contractors:

Name: JELENA PETROV PR KTIRIO VRŠAC
VAT registration or tax identification number: 114714205
Name: PR Consult Directions
VAT registration or tax identification number: 110074564 / 64631896
Name: STUDI DI MANO DOO Zrenjanin
VAT registration or tax identification number: 109203293
Name: MOMENTUM 2025
VAT registration or tax identification number: 114860059
Name: AB Trade DOO Beograd
VAT registration or tax identification number: 100421071

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

General Hospital „Đorđe Joanović” Zrenjanin

ORALERT 2025: Equal access to innovative screening solutions for oral HPV

Partners and Projects info

"Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timișoara

ORALERT 2025: Equal access to innovative screening solutions for oral HPV

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): ORALERT 2025: Equal access to innovative screening solutions for oral HPV

Project acronym: ORALERT

Project ID: RORS00267

Project start date: 2024-11-23

Project end date: 2026-11-22

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

RORS467 (EN) | The proposed project application generates synergy with RORS467 “Medical Infrastructure for the Development of Excellence Surgical Services in the Cross-border Area”, acronym MEDICARE, regarding the fact that it proposes specialized training for medical personnel, so that they can have the necessary professional capacities to evaluate and efficiently screen the general population for oral cancer, and also assist the population through carrying out a high quality medical act. Also, similarly to the above mentioned project, the current application proposes a screening procedure for the Romanian-Serbian cross-border population aiming to identify pathologies, i.e. oral cancer, in their early stages of development. (EN), RORS-193 (EN) | General Hospital “Đorđe Joanović”, Zrenjanin was one of the final beneficiaries in one of the activities implemented by the Ministry of Health from the Republic of Serbia through project RORS-193: “Romania-Serbia joint initiative against cancer in the cross-border region: improved diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors”. The overall objective of the project was to foster collaboration in the field of oncology between medical institutions on the two sides of the border in order to provide access to modern and efficient specific health care services for all oncologic patient’s resident in the Region, with the aim to improve their lifespan/survival/life expectancy and quality of life. General Hospital “Đorđe Joanović”, Zrenjanin provided specialized support and expertise in relevant fields concerning oncology. This project is the logical next step for General Hospital “Đorđe Joanović”, Zrenjanin to be direct partner in Interreg IPA CBC Project and to continue development of hospital infrastructure (specifically: E.N.T) and staff expertise. In addition, hospital medical staff from various departments are continuously implementing state funded smaller projects. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 942 421.65

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 651 058.40

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 85.00%

Co-financing sources:

IPA/IPA II/IPA III: Amount, EUR 1 651 058.40. Co-financing rate, 85.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Educational materials developed
FB page created
10 high-schools and universities participating & 10 speaking lectures delivered
3000 people included in the awareness campaign
Mandatory visual identity activities carried out
Cross-Border training program provided
RORS screening expert team assigned
Questionnaire for anamnesis
1200 RORS screened persons/ patients
RORS medical staff for mobile units assigned
2 Mobile healthcare units organized
1 Functional mobile app for oral telemedicine
100 Mobile app users
1 user data and feedback Report

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

TerritorialAgenda2030 The Territorial Agenda 2030 is a strategic policy framework that aims to guide territorial development policies in the European Union over the next decade. ORALERT will contribute to the strategy in several ways:
Improved access to healthcare: By investing in the endowment of healthcare facilities and purchasing high-tech equipment for supporting telemedicine services, the project will improve access to healthcare for people living in remote or rural areas. This will help to reduce health inequalities between urban and rural areas.
Strengthened cross-border cooperation: The project's joint working procedures, joint events, joint strategies, and know-how exchange activities will help to strengthen cross-border cooperation in the healthcare sector. This will help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare services and promote best practices and innovation in the field.
Increased digitalization of healthcare services: The project's focus on digitalization and the development of a new mobile app for remote diagnosis will help to advance the digitalization of healthcare services in the programme area. This will help to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services and promote the use of digital tools in healthcare.
Supporting sustainable development: The project will contribute to sustainable development by promoting environmentally friendly practices in the healthcare sector. By reducing the need for invasive procedures (like histopathological ones), the project can help to reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare systems, which is a key priority of the Territorial Agenda 2030.
Overall, the project's objectives align with the Territorial Agenda 2030's goals of promoting a more balanced and inclusive development across the European Union, and contributing to the transition towards a green, digital, and resilient Europe.
Other The Europe 2030 strategy aims to create a more competitive, sustainable, and inclusive Europe over the next decade. ORALERT will contribute to this strategy by promoting early detection of oral HPV, improving the health outcomes of the target group and contributing to the overall health and well-being of the region.
The project's emphasis on telemedicine diagnosis will help to improve access to healthcare and support the digitalization of healthcare services in the region. The project's cross-border approach will help to promote cooperation and exchange of best practices among healthcare providers in the region, contributing to the creation of a more integrated and connected Europe.
The project's focus on capacity building, training, and know-how exchange will support the development of new research and innovative solutions for the prevention and diagnosis, HPV-related oral cancers.
Overall, the project's objectives align with the Europe 2030 strategy's goals of promoting health, digitalization, cooperation, and innovation, and can contribute to building a more prosperous and sustainable Europe for the future.
Other The project contributes to the EU Digital Agenda for Europe by innovating and implementing telemedicine solutions such as the new mobile app for remote diagnosis of HPV-related oral cancer.
The use of services from a distance enables remote consultations and monitoring of patients, thus providing better and more efficient healthcare services for patients. By adopting telemedicine services, the project helps to increase the digitalization of healthcare services, which is one of the key objectives of the EU Digital Agenda for Europe.
Moreover, the project's development of a joint cross-border HPV screening program will contribute to the EU's goal of reducing the incidence of cervical cancer through the prevention of HPV infections. The project's efforts to raise awareness of HPV-related illnesses and their prevention among healthcare professionals and the general public will also contribute to the EU's efforts to promote digital literacy and digital skills for all, as part of the EU Digital Agenda for Europe.
Other The project aligns with several priorities of the European Union Health Strategy, which aims to improve the health of EU citizens, reduce health inequalities, and ensure the sustainability of health systems. Specifically, the project addresses the priority areas of prevention and early detection, access to healthcare, and digital health.
In terms of prevention and early detection, the project will raise awareness of HPV-related illnesses and promote the benefits of early detection, including through the implementation of oral HPV screening. This aligns with the Health Strategy's goal to improve cancer prevention and early detection.
The project's focus on improving access to healthcare and reducing health inequalities is also in line with the Health Strategy's aim to ensure equitable access to healthcare across the EU. By implementing innovative solutions such as telemedicine services and mobile apps for remote diagnosis, the project aims to overcome barriers to healthcare access, particularly for people living in rural or remote areas.
Finally, the project's efforts to improve digital health through the implementation of telemedicine services and mobile apps align with the Health Strategy's goal of harnessing the potential of digital solutions to improve healthcare outcomes. Overall, the project's alignment with the priorities of the EU Health Strategy demonstrates its contribution to wider efforts to improve health outcomes and health system sustainability in the European Union.

Deliverable (other than infrastructural investment) areas:

România (RO), Timisoara, Revolutiei 1989 Blvd , 9, 300024
Serbia (RS), Zrenjanin, Dr Vase Savića , 5, 23000
România (RO), Timișoara, Eftimie Murgu, 2, 300041

Programme Output Indicator:

PSO 03 - Investments in health care, family-based and community-based care services, Measurement unit: investments

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR 03 - Annual users of the supported investments in health care, family-based and community-based care services, Measurement unit: users/year

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A IPA Romania Serbia

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2026-01-22

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

32 / 32 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

93 / 93 (100%)

Notes on the data

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ORALERT 2025: Equal access to innovative screening solutions for oral HPV

Description

Thematic information

Partners (2)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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