Last year was very impactful for the #EFACommunity, as we continued investing in the deep transformation for patient driven advocacy and participation in Europe on allergy, atopic eczema, asthma and COPD. The perspectives of EFA Community continued informing the work of the organisation streamed through four programmes 2023-2025.
In 2024, we worked close to our Community and mobilised in a context of polarisation and economic hardship, because health remains fundamental for citizens and patients. Through the BREATHE project, we stated clearly that our policy is to #KeepBreathing, and campaigned with our patient and healthcare professional partners for an EU 2024-2029 mandate that takes decisive action on lung health. We continued supporting EFA community capacity building in medicine research and development by sponsoring EUPATI fellows, and sustained the input of young patients into EFA’s action through our Youth Parliament.
We also brought our expertise in Prevention, proposing measures to many different legislations. I wish to highlight the strong EFA food allergy community advocacy for improved allergen labelling in food. In 2024, we brought EFA recommendations to the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, at a crucial moment when international standards are being developed for food labelling including in emergencies, and around food e-commerce. We also informed European countries efforts to improve air quality indoors.
Throughout our Care programme, we enthusiastically launched, together with partners, Lung Health for Life, the only project funded by the European Commission Health Programme that specifically addresses chronic respiratory diseases. We responded to 12 EU consultations on health, and put firmly forward the patients’ needs and expectations on the EU endeavours to address medicines shortages. We multiplied our efforts to generate knowledge and materials accessible for patients, and make the best use of international opportunities. On World Asthma Day, we launched AboutAsthma.org a website addressed to patients and caregivers with clinical guidelines explained in lay language. We co-organised World Atopic Eczema Day with partner Global Skin and supported EFA Community to communicate #AtopicEczemaUnfiltered. We marked World COPD Day by publishing “Raising the bar for better standards of care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease”, an interactive report and policy recommendations to break the cycle of political inaction towards this disease. I am so proud for all the EFA members that have participated in the co-creation and delivery of all this patient-led work for better care in Europe.
On Climate Change, we welcomed one of the most awaited steps affecting our community, the reviewed EU Ambient Air Quality Directive. This Directive not only proposes stricter levels of exposure to air pollution and gets closer to the WHO recommendations but recognises EFA calls on the harm to health that pollution can cause. In part thanks to our sustained advocacy on the revision of this law since 2018, patients in 28 EU member States will have soon the right to targeted health information on air quality, to access justice on air pollution infringements, and to access compensation for health damage to their airways and lungs.
We give our highest recognition to EFA members Community and patient experts, and we deeply thank the wider supporters of our daily cause and long term EFA patients’ agenda. Warm thanks to our sustainable corporate partners and to the European Commission for their long-lasting trust and resources to make our work possible. We look forward to building a healthier and better future for allergy, atopic eczema, asthma and COPD patient health.
Marcia Podestà, EFA President