The Annual Plenary Meeting on Primary Cancer Prevention concluded successfully. The meeting was organized by the University of Medicine, Tirana (UMT) in partnership with the Academy of Sciences of Albania and the Institute of Public Health, within the framework of the PIECES project, funded by the European Commission. During the meeting, 15 research institutions from 10 EU countries, Ukraine, and Albania (represented by UMT) presented their progress on piloting innovative tools for primary cancer prevention programs in public health practice.
Around 40% of cancers can be prevented, yet public health programs often face challenges in their implementation. In an increasingly digital world, tools such as the It-Fits Toolkit and digital libraries of effective practices can support public health professionals throughout every stage of designing and implementing primary cancer prevention initiatives. The final day of the event was dedicated to a training session on the application of qualitative methods in the evaluation of public health programs.
At the conclusion of the event, participants emphasized that although digital support for cancer prevention is not a magic solution and differences across local contexts remain important, it represents an approach that can and should be reflected in both European Union and national health policies. Furthermore, the continued involvement of Albanian research institutions in EU research and innovation networks and projects will contribute to the ongoing improvement of the effectiveness of public health interventions.
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