On 14 May 2026, CURTAIN Partners participated in a workshop during the CUMO Congress held in Budva, Montenegro.
The workshop was structured into two parts: knowledge exchange between CURTAIN partners and synergies with the 4P-CAN project. The workshop was moderated by Mădălina Iamandei, All-CAN.
- Knowledge exchange between CURTAIN partners
Marius Geantă, INOMED, opened the discussion emphasising that Eastern European discrepancies related to cancer literacy, access to knowledge and care, require locally and culturally adapted solutions – solutions that may already exist, but need more visibility and scaling-up opportunities.
Elena Chițan, DGAMS, continued by listing the main barriers and facilitators of cancer literacy in Moldova, highlighting the importance of tailored communication for different audiences and how effective communication transforms information into action.
Liubov Krotova, DSMU, followed up by presenting Ukraine’s situation, presenting the most trusted sources of information and channels of communication among citizens and healthcare professionals under wartime conditions, pointing the advantages of multi-sectoral collaboration.
Milica Stanišić, CUMO, described the situation of Montenegro, highlighting that the only health-literacy related activities are on HPV vaccination and screening, and that the main barrier is the HCP’s lack of time in communicating with patients.
Mădălina Iamandei, ALL-CAN, ended the first session of the workshop by presenting the European picture of cancer literacy, emphasizing the costs in time, money and lives, related to persisting knowledge and access gaps.
- Synergies with 4P-CAN project:
Milica Kuzmanoska, FEMINA.M, presented the perspective of North Macedonia regarding health communication and literacy, noting the systemic barriers that increase discrepancies and the importance of building trust in the healthcare system, as well as regional and international collaborative initiatives.
Ivan Tchalakov, PU, presented Bulgaria’s situation and how an increasing lack of trust in institutions and rise of anti-vaxxing movements are impacting health literacy efforts.
The purpose of the workshop was to identify a series of good practices, recommendations and what to avoid in regards to cancer literacy, health communication and stakeholder engagement, informed by the experience of Eastern European countries.