The Expert Panel on effective ways of investing in health (EXPH) is an interdisciplinary and independent group established by the European Commission to provide non-binding independent advice on matters related to effective, accessible, and resilient health systems. The Expert Panel aims to support DG Health and Food Safety in its efforts towards evidence-based policy-making, to inform national policy making in improving the quality and sustainability of health systems, and to foster EU level cooperation to improve information, expertise, and the exchange of best practices.

The core element of the Expert Panel’s mission is to provide the Commission with sound and independent advice in the form of opinions in response to questions (mandates) submitted by the Commission on matters related to health.

In 2018, SIP published its Joint Statement which includes recommendations for policy action highlighting opportunities for action and collaboration by the European Commission, Member States, and civil society to reduce the societal impact of pain.

These recommendations form the over-arching and guiding principles for SIP and are divided into four categories: health indicators, research, employment, and education.

For this EXPH Opinion, SIP recommended:

• To establish pain as a quality indicator for health systems performance assessment, particularly in the context of the digitisation of health systems and services

• To add people with chronic pain as a distinct group of vulnerable patients in their own right

Read more and download SIP response here