# Preventive healthcare initiatives in the Balkans

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/preventive-healthcare-initiatives-in-the-balkans
> Updated: 2026-09-10T09:46:27.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 3.

Various Balkan nations are implementing preventive healthcare initiatives to encourage early disease detection.

In Serbia, health centers in Šabac and Prokuplje have launched localized programs. The Šabac initiative includes abdominal ultrasound screenings to detect pathologies in organs such as the liver and kidneys, while the Prokuplje program offers blood sugar, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation checks to help prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

In Greece, the Ministry of Health is expanding the ‘PROLAMBANO’ National Prevention Program. A new phase launching in September aims to provide free screenings for approximately 6.2 million unique individuals through December 2026, with digital referrals being issued to about 5.3 million citizens via SMS. The program focuses on cardiovascular diseases and breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. Funding has been secured through 2030, with 300 million euros allocated from national resources. Deputy Health Minister Eirini Agapidakis noted the program seeks to shift the national healthcare focus “from treating diseases to preventing them.” Previous phases of the program have already facilitated 6.86 million preventive examinations, leading to early detection in 274,410 individuals.

In Bulgaria, medical institutions are launching nationwide campaigns throughout September 2026. As part of the National Program for Tuberculosis Prevention 2026–2030, a ‘Week of Open Doors’ provides free tuberculosis screenings to all citizens, including those without health insurance, at various regional hospitals such as UMBAL ‘St. Georgi’ in Plovdiv. Additionally, the Bistrev Group Medical-Dental Center in Sofia is offering free dental examinations for children and adolescents up to 18 years of age to address high rates of dental caries.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: Bulgaria launches nationwide preventive health screening campaigns

Medical facilities across Bulgaria are conducting free health screenings this September, including tuberculosis prevention campaigns and dental checkups for children and adolescents.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgaria-launches-nationwide-preventive-health-screening-campaigns

### 2026-08-31: Greece to launch free preventive health screenings in September

Greece will launch a new phase of its ‘PROLAMBANO’ prevention program in September, offering free screenings for cardiovascular diseases and three types of cancer to millions of citizens.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/greece-to-launch-free-preventive-health-screenings-in-september

### 2026-08-27: Health centers in Serbia launch preventive medical screening initiatives

Health centers in Šabac and Prokuplje, Serbia, are conducting preventive medical screenings, including abdominal ultrasounds and blood pressure checks, to promote early disease detection.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/health-centers-in-serbia-launch-preventive-medical-screening-initiatives

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Cite as: Preventive healthcare initiatives in the Balkans. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/preventive-healthcare-initiatives-in-the-balkans