Societal Impact of Pain - Initiatives

Raising awareness for chronic pain on national level

Following the official launch of the "Societal Impact of Pain - A Road Map for Action" on European level in the European Parliament on 4 May 2011, it is SIP's mission to raise awareness of the relevance of the impact that pain has on our societies, health and economic systems and to exchange information and share best-practices across all member states of the European Union. 

The following information shows different country initiatives, press activities and communication materials from European Member States to make aware of the societal impact of pain in their country. 

Senior members of parliament, like Joba van den Berg (CDA), Rens Raemakers (D66) and Arno Rutte (VVD) listened to the different aspects of pain, often confronted for the first time with pain experiences by patients. Moderated by Amela Halilović and Pepijn Knops the Dutch PAiN platform represented by Prof. Kris Vissers, Ilona Thomassen, Prof. Michiel Reneman, Dutch Councillor of the European Pain Federation EFIC and Grunenthal B.V. represented by Ivo Cerfontaine made clear how much impact pain has on many adults and children. For some members of parliament it was astonishing that 20 percent of the Dutch inhabitants suffers from chronic pain. In the Dutch health care policy, pain is hardly on the agenda and receives little attention. Therefore the objective of the meeting was to start a political dialogue to change this and to make sure that pain gets the attention it deserves. The members of parliament confirmed to be convinced that in taking policy initiatives pain gets and remains in the spotlights. Hence a follow up by policy makers and PAiN can be expected soon. You can find more information about the meeting in Dutch on the website of PA!N.

PA!N political round table meeting about pain

Senior members of parliament, like Joba van den Berg (CDA), Rens Raemakers (D66) and Arno Rutte (VVD) listened to the different aspects of pain, often…

In March, 11 patient associations and scientific societies signed a joint statement recommending the urgent implementation of measures to promote the employability of people with pain. Representatives from countries with SIP related activities and national platforms provided an update on their activities and policy developments in Brussels on the 25th of Oktober. SIP Belgium, established in the beginning of 2018, shared their objectives in a presentation (attached). Following articles present additional information on this topic "Pain & Employment": - SIP collaboration with CHRODIS+; - SIP Thematic Network: Pain as a factor in employment; - Report from PAE's survey 2018 on chronic pain and work; - SIP Portugal meeting with employers to address the impact of pain on employment; - Meeting of Interest Group on Brain, Mind and Pain "Fighting discrimination at work for people with chronic pain conditions" - SIP 2017, Working Group 3: Impact of pain on labour and employment

Patient associations and scientific societies in Portugal si…

In March, 11 patient associations and scientific societies signed a joint statement recommending the urgent implementation of measures to promote the …

On 26 April representatives of SIP Europe, national stakeholders and members of the SIP Partners at national level met to build on the existing collaboration among pain healthcare professionals and patient groups active in Finland and to discuss first steps create a Finnish SIP national platform and the next steps in the process of pursuing common pain policies in Finland.

SIP Finland kick-off meeting

On 26 April representatives of SIP Europe, national stakeholders and members of the SIP Partners at national level met to build on the existing collab…

The XIV Atlantic Islands Pain Forum took place on 4-6 April in Funchal, Madeira. The event featured workshops, debates, symposia, panel sessions and practical courses that discussed "state of the art" in the treatment of pain from a multidisciplinary perspective. It attracted some 300 participants.

SIP Europe and SIP Portugal featured in Madeira

The XIV Atlantic Islands Pain Forum took place on 4-6 April in Funchal, Madeira. The event featured workshops, debates, symposia, panel sessions and p…

The Belgian Pain Society and the international humanitarian medical NGO, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), organized a thematic symposium on “Pain in victims of conflicts, tortures and refugees” on February 21th in Brussels at the MSF premises. A multidisciplinary panel of experts, including Julia Downing, Patrice Forget, Pierre-Michel François, Judith Kendell, Eric Weerts and Amanda Williams, discussed the challenges and opportunities related to this complex issue. Various topics were discussed in the format of a roundtable including pain management in conflict areas and pain and mental health in tortured refugees, as well as their unmet needs. Patrice Forget, president of the Belgian Pain Society, acted as moderator of the event. What’s to come? The Belgian Pain Society and Doctors Without Borders aim to take stock of the outcomes of the discussion and tackling the issue of pain in victims of conflicts, tortures and refugees with a position paper to be launched by the end of the year. Pain in victims of torture is also one of the topics within this year’s focus of the Global and European Year against pain, which focuses on the most vulnerable in 2019. Below you can find the link to the relevant Global and European year factsheets: - Chronic Pain as a Consequence of Torture: Assessment - Chronic Pain as a Consequence of Torture: Management The annual meeting of the Belgian Pain Society (BPS), taking place on May 18 in Brussels, will also contribute to carry on the scientific debate on the topic of the 2019 Year Against Pain, as the BPS annual meeting will be focused on "Pain in vulnerable populations". For more information on the European and Global Year Against Pain in the most vulnerable please visit the  EYAP page and GYAP page

Meeting on pain in victims of conflicts, tortures and refugees

The Belgian Pain Society and the international humanitarian medical NGO, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), organized a thematic symposium on “Pain in vic…

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