On 18 of March, our partner Prof. Dr. Tatjana Loncar-Turukalo, from the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Serbia, was one of the panelists at the conference EU Standards for Women’s Health: A National Priority in the Fight Against Breast Cancer” organized by WMG group in Belgrade, Serbia, ahead of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Day (marked in Serbia on 20th March every year).
The conference emphasized the critical role of preventative healthcare regarding breast cancer in Serbia, citing data that show a 90% recovery rate when the disease is detected and treated early. In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Ferenc Vicko, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, stated that breast cancer represents one of the greatest public health challenges in Serbia, with approximately 4500 new cases per year and between 70,000 and 100,000 women living with this diagnosis.
Ana Aleksić, a member of the WMG Board and chair of the Board of Directors of the WMG Foundation, shared that raising awareness about preventive screenings and exchanging experiences with countries with developed systems, such as Sweden, are fundamental to improving women’s health.
Besides talking about role and contribution of AI tools in medical imaging, Dr. Tatjana had a chance to promote the TRACE project mission and establishment of the regional ecosystem for cancer awareness and protection.
“We have the knowledge and the data, but it’s crucial to connect them and use them in practice”, shared Prof. Dr. Tatjana.
The common message among the speakers was that modern breast cancer treatment requires more than just the availability of therapies; an organized system, clearly defined priorities, and continuous investment in innovations that directly impact the length and quality of life of patients are necessary.
The plenary speakers at the event were Prof. Dr. Ferenc Vicko, state secretary of the Ministry of Health in Republic of Serbia, H.E. Charlotte Sammelin, ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro, and Fabio Scano, Head of the World Health Organization Office in Serbia.
