On 29 September, President of Latvia Egils Levits and President of Slovenia Borut Pahor visited National Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, met with medical professors and witnessed the signing of agreement for academic cooperation between the Slovenian Institute of Public Health, Slovenian Association for Gastroenterology and Hepatology and University of Latvia.
Meeting with researchers focused on Slovenia’s experience in designing and delivery of the national cancer screening programme. President of Latvia thanked the Slovenian side for its expertise in drafting of Latvia’s cervical cancer prevention guidelines and noted that Latvia needs more efficient and holistic approach to planning of cancer screening.
Other topics included European Union-level (EU) cancer reduction activities. During the past decade, Latvian researchers have collaborated with Slovenian experts on a number of initiatives, including cancer screening and, more specifically, gastrointestinal tumour prevention programmes. Countries have applied and received EU funding for several joint projects. Just a couple of days ago leading partner University of Latvia submitted application for funding of joint cooperation project in the field of big data for gastric cancer prevention in scope of Horizon Europe programme.