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Implementation of cost-optimized childhood vision and hearing screening programmes in middle-income countries in Europe

Objective

Screening for vision and hearing disorders in children has shown to be highly effective. EU-directive 16620/11 invites EU-member states to give priority to such screening programmes. Early detection and treatment of a lazy eye (prevalence 3%) prevents lifelong visual impairment. Early detection and treatment of hearing impairment (prevalence 0.15%) prevents delayed speech and language development.
Across Europe inequity exists in the provision of childhood vision and hearing screening programmes (VAHSPs). High-Income Countries (HICs) have VAHSPs, but they vary with regard to age and frequency of testing, tests used, uptake, screening professionals, referral pathway and funding. This makes it difficult for healthcare providers and policy makers to decide what VAHSP to implement in Low- to Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and how.
In this study, cost-optimised, evidence-based VAHSPs will be implemented in two LMICs, based on collated evidence from existing VAHSPs in Europe. Data on VAHSPs, demography, administration, general screening, screening professions, uptake and treatment availability will be gathered in an established network of professionals in 41 European countries and used in a disease/health system modelling framework to predict benefits and cost in the most optimal health system, taking regional diversity and organisational and resource requirements into account.
Model-developed VAHSPs will be tested in the county of Cluj in Romania for vision, and in three counties in Albania for hearing screening. A generic strategy for implementation will be developed by detailed tracking, and from identified requirements, facilitators and barriers. The decision-analytic modelling framework and the strategy for implementation will be packed into a transferable TOOLKIT that will assist healthcare providers and policy makers worldwide in their decisions to introduce or modify VAHSPs, and increase effectiveness, efficiency and equity of child healthcare.

Call for proposal

H2020-SC1-2016-2017

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Sub call

H2020-SC1-2016-RTD

Coordinator

ERASMUS UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM ROTTERDAM
Net EU contribution
€ 1 489 960,00
Address
Dr Molewaterplein 40
3015 GD Rotterdam
Netherlands

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Region
West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Groot-Rijnmond
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (9)

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 501 315,00
Address
Firth Court Western Bank
S10 2TN Sheffield

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Region
Yorkshire and the Humber South Yorkshire Sheffield
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
THE UNIVERSITY OF READING
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 103 640,00
Address
Whiteknights Campus Whiteknights House
RG6 6AH Reading

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Region
South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Berkshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Sweden
Net EU contribution
€ 319 330,00
Address
Nobels Vag 5
17177 Stockholm

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Region
Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

REGION STOCKHOLM
Sweden
Net EU contribution
€ 80 768,00
Address
Hantverkargatan 45
104 22 Stockholm

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Region
Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län
Activity type
Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE-UNIVERSITAET FRANKFURT AM MAIN
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 75 500,00
Address
Theodor W Adorno Platz 1
60323 Frankfurt Am Main

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Region
Baden-Württemberg Stuttgart Stuttgart, Stadtkreis
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE IULIU HATIEGANU CLUJ-NAPOCA
Romania
Net EU contribution
€ 424 931,25
Address
Victor Babes Street 8
400012 Cluj-napoca

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Region
Macroregiunea Unu Nord-Vest Cluj
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 17 463,25
UNIVERSITETI I MJEKESISE TIRANE
Albania
Net EU contribution
€ 817 050,00
Address
Rruga E Dibres 371
1005 Tirana

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Region
Shqipëria Qender Tiranë
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 29 645,00
DIRECTIA DE ASISTENTA SOCIALA SI MEDICALA
Romania
Net EU contribution
€ 125 068,75
Address
Piata Unirii Nr 1
400133 Cluj-napoca

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Region
Macroregiunea Unu Nord-Vest Cluj
Activity type
Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
STICHTING COUNTRY-COMMITTEES JOINT-PARTNERSHIP OF EUSCREEN STUDY CONSORTIUM
Netherlands
Net EU contribution
€ 246 000,00
Address
Prins Mauritssingel 111
3043 PE Rotterdam

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Region
West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Groot-Rijnmond
Activity type
Other
Other funding
€ 25 000,00