Another national Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) initiative has been launched on June 26th in Spain. Several patient organisations and clinical experts came together with representatives from the Ministry of health and three other regional communities to successfully launch SIP in Spain. Participants  reflected on the challenges of pain care and management in Spain, and shared their input on the differences per regional community. 

The SIP kick off meeting has represented the ideal forum to present and discuss the objectives of SIP Spain and topics to work on in a national SIP symposium planned for November 2018. 

Three working groups have been built to work on the topics selected by the group, which are the following:

1. Pain as a quality indicator of healthcare systems
2. Coordination and continuity of healthcare assistance
3. Management of chronic pain and vulnerable/special needs population

This is another great example how a national SIP platform has been launched based on the experiences and strategy of the European SIP platform. Please see also the presentation which has been shared in the Meeting.