Health conditions of CEE countries lag those of the more developed EU members. Life expectancy at birth for women in the EU (based on Eurostat’s 2015 data) is 83.3 years, however in Hungary and Romania it is respectively only 79 and 78.7. For men life expectancy at birth is 77.9 years, which again compares favourably to Hungary and Romania (respectively 72.3 and 71.5). Turning now to Healthy Life Years, the EU average for women is 63.3, whereas in Hungary and Romania it is 61.1 and 59.4 respectively. For men it is a similar story: 62.6 in the EU, 58.2 in Hungary, and 59 in Romania. Cancer and cardiovascular diseases are the most prevalent causes of death in both countries. However, these illnesses could be prevented with early identification and prevention, and several other diseases could be filtered and effectively treated in infancy. The main overall objective of the project Development and Testing of Efficient Screening and Prevention Programs (DESP) is to mitigate the morbidity and mortality rates of cancer and circulatory diseases. Therefore, the project’s goal is to increase the efficiency of screening and to strengthen preventive healthcare and health awareness in the region. An efficient screening programme enables the early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the different types of cancer, thus making a palpable contribution to the mitigation of mortality rates. Preventive healthcare and health awareness results in the prevention of diseases, thus diminishing morbidity rates. The project also mitigates inequalities in health and social care infrastructure by improving access to health and social services (with a strong focus on people at risk of poverty and populations living in poorer areas). The project needs to tap into the potential of ensuring efficient use of capacities of health care institutions and contributing to the social stability of the cross-border area by improving general living conditions of people living in deprived rural areas and in segregated urban communities.The project aims to make a significant investment in the development of infrastructure. Csongrád County Health Care Center — Hódmezővásárhely-Makó has a very high reputation in terms of screening and prevention. However, as a result of screening there is a growing number of people needing treatment or even hospitalization and, at present, facilities are not adequate. To meet the increased demand, an extension is required, with two extra floors housing the Internal Medicine Department and Paediatrics.The Association of Vincentian Sisters of Charity specialise in the recovery and medical rehabilitation of people in need, but there is a huge demand for the preparation of prevention and screening methodology, in order to offer preventive and diagnostic services to the general public as well. Therefore, the project aims to elaborate a study which determines the Prevention and Screening Methodology from a professional, technical and financial point of view, which is going to be implemented in the FA phase by a team of specialists in the field of diagnosis.Another major disparity in the quality of health care services lies in the level of investment in equipment. The project aims to make a significant investment on both sides of the border to allow efficient screening, diagnostic, and curing activities. The new equipment affects 8 Departments within CSMEK, namely the Internal Medicine Department, Paediatrics, Pathology, Radiology, Dermatology and the Health Development Office in Hódmezővásárhely, and Dermatology and the Health Development Office in Makó. Further to that, the new equipment will affect 2 departments of the János Hám Medical Prevention Centre. The estimated number of health-care departments affected by modernized equipment is 10.Also, the planned budget of CSMEK is € 284, 707.00 for the CN phase, and € 7 154 070,00 for the FA phase, totalling € 7 438 777,00. The planned budget of AVSC is € 57,046.00 for the CN phase, and € 2 100 337,85 for the FA phase, totalling € 2 157 383,85 EUR. The total budget of DESP is € 9 596 160,85 EUREUR.