On the 25th of April, patients and doctors launched and the Members of the European Parliament Interest Group on Allergy and Asthma launched a call to action on allergy and asthma. Sign it now
The political Call to Action in Europe ‘United action for allergy and asthma’ was launched on April 25th a multi-stakeholder partnership between three co-initiators: the European Parliament Interest Group on Allergy and Asthma, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), and the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations (EFA).
Over 80 people attended the event, marking the start of a pan-European advocacy campaign to drive action on allergy and asthma – the most prevalent chronic diseases in Europe.
Need for a health-in all policies approach to tackle allergy, asthma and COPD
The event was co-hosted by 3 Members of the European Parliament, from 3 different political groups: MEP Sirpa Pietikainen (EPP, Finland), MEP Karin Kadenbach (S&D, Austria), MEP Nathalie Griesbeck (ALDE, France), and new IG member Jamorik Kohlicek (GUE/NGL, Check Republic) also participated.
EFA President Mikaela Odemyr stressed the importance to design and implement policies which prevent diseases’ development (especially in legislations ruling healthcare; indoor air quality; chemicals; and food safety), and that high health standards require public policies that actively support health - in public health services, prevention, research, personalised medicine, and treatments.
She underlined allergy, asthma, and COPD need cross policy making applying a holistic approach among health, buildings and houses, safety at work, agriculture, and nutrition sectors.
Sign the call to action on allergy and asthma now!
Targeted at EU and national policymakers, the call to action presents policy recommendations to EU Member States, the European Commission, the European Parliament and patients/civil society stakeholders, with the overarching objective to unite all strategic parties in Europe to help bring about effective policy responses to allergy and asthma through a collaborative and holistic approach, supporting patients’ rights. In particular, it calls for:
- European strategies and programmes on allergy and asthma to be implemented in all Member States
- greater funding for research to advance the understanding of allergy and asthma
- better prevention and diagnosis to achieve early detection and allow timely and effective treatment
- actions to address underlying triggers, such as air quality, food allergens and chemicals, and to improve the analysis of the root causes of allergic diseases
- strengthened work to pioneer individualised treatment and progress personalised medicine.
The Call to Action is open until the end of September for endorsement by all interested parties wishing to join this move to support stronger and improved allergy and asthma policies. An online platform for endorsement is available at http://www.callallergyasthma.eu/ and the Coalition encourages you to take part in this initiative.
Press release of the launch here.