ACN is happy to welcome the first 10 MEPs as new supporters of the Interest Group on “European Patients' Rights and Cross-border Healthcare”
Active Citizenship Network is proud to announce the list of the first Members of the European Parliament that have decided to support the Interest Group on “European Patients' Rights and Cross-border Healthcare”, promoted by ACN last May with the endorsement of David BORRELLI (Italy), Co-Chair of the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group and Gianni PITTELLA (Italy), Chair of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament as co-founders. The list includes also:

• Brando BENIFEI (Italy), Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament
• Elena GENTILE (Italy), Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament
• Nathalie GRIESBECK (France), Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
• Andrey KOVATCHEV (Bulgaria), Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
• Aldo PATRICIELLO (Italy), Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
• Piernicola PEDICINI (Italy), Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group
• Christel SCHALDEMOSE (Denmark), Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament
• Flavio ZANONATO (Italy), Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament

More information:

The aims of the MEPs  Interest Group

Presidents of two parliamentarian parties invite MEPs to join Interest Group promoted by Active Citizenship Network

Towards the establishment of the new MEPs Interest Group “European Patients' Rights and Cross-border Healthcare”

EU Parliamentary question on European Patients' Rights Day
MEP Elisabeth Morin-Chartier (PPE) promoted the following Parliamentary question for written answer to the Commission:
The ninth European Patients’ Rights Day was celebrated on 18 April 2015. Asserting the importance of patients’ rights is more important than ever. Although these rights are included in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, people know little about them. The right of patients to be informed, to give free and informed consent and to be treated with dignity ought to be publicised much more widely. The EU institutions should therefore take a more active approach on these issues.
1. Given that the EU is expected to take practical measures for the benefit of its citizens, how does the Commission intend to reaffirm the importance of patients’ rights?
2. Is it the Commission’s aim to cooperate with patients’ associations in marking 18 April as European Patients’ Rights Day? If so, in what timeframe and through what procedures?
Read here the answer given last 6 August by Mr. Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, on behalf of the European Commission.
Next September 15th, Active Citizenship Network will meet the cabinet of Commissioner Andriukaitis to provide them more information on the request of the institutionalization of the European Patients' Rights Day.

More information:

Why should the European Patients’ Rights Day be institutionalized?

List of civic & patient associations that support the institutionalization of the European Patients' Rights Day

Consultations launched into voluntary sector role in health and care
Two consultations will help to determine the future of voluntary sector involvement in health and care. Respondents from the voluntary and health and social care sectors will give their views on the current state of partnership working and how closer collaboration could be fostered. The second consultation will also seek views on the role and effectiveness of the government’s current ‘voluntary sector investment partnership’ suite of grants. The two consultations are commissioned by the Department of Health, NHS England, and Public Health England. Both consultations will remain open until  Friday 6 November. To read the consultations, please click here and here.

Pain Therapy & Palliative Care: Cittadinanzattiva in the technical committee of the Italian Ministry of Health
In Italy there is still much work to do about the pain treatment, considering that 16% of patients who complains of pain is not believed or have to see their problem diminished.
For this reason, there is a section of the Technical Committee on Health of the Ministry of Health dedicated to this matter, an organization that brings together 204 experts for advice and support in policies covering different areas of health and science. One section in particular will focus on palliative care and pain management and the member who will represent the citizens' associations is Tonino Aceti, national coordinator of the Tribunale per i Diritti del Malato (Tribunal for Patients' Rights) of Cittadinanzattiva. Read more (IT language)

European Mobility Week 2015: Cittadinanzattiva will launch civic consultation on multimodality in Italy
Next September 16th, in occasion of the European Mobility Week, Cittadinanzattiva,  associated partner of the EMW, will launch a civic consultation on new mobility option (car sharing, bike sahring, car pooling, etc.). The activity is realized in partnership with the University of Calabria. For any further information, please contact Cinzia Pollio: c.pollio@cittadinanzattiva.it. To read the commitment of Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network for the European Mobility Week, please click here.

EuropeAid: Active Citizenship Network in Cyprus to contribute to a better protection of rights
With a project proposal aimed at strengthening protection of the rights and the empowerment of patients, the Cypriot Universal Patients' Rights Association, in partnership with Active Citizenship Network, the European branch of Cittadinanzattiva, has been awarded the EU ban "Cypriot Civil Society in Action V ", aimed at strengthening the cultural development of the population in the north of the country. To learn more about the announcement, click here

New opportunity to build active citizenship in Europe
ALDA - the European Association for Local Democracy - continuously supports activities in the field of active European citizenship. In this perspective, the organization has decided to open a call for proposals for activities and events which will take place from 1st October to 31st December 2015. The deadline for applying is 30th September 2015. For any further information, please contact Aldo Xhani: aldo.xhani@aldaintranet.org

U-Impact: from citizen involvement to their political impact
Increasing the impact of the initiatives, promoted by citizens, in the decision process within the European Union. With this ambitious objective, 9 countries have begun a new project called “ From Citizen Involvement to Policy Impact (U-Impact)”, which is supported by the EU Program “Europe for Citizens”. Cittadinanzattiva is the only Italian civic organization involved in this project participating through its European branch, Active Citizenship Network. Read more

September, 15-16, Brussels (Belgium): Cushing’s disease in the age of the Cross-border healthcare
Active Citizenship Network will participate as discussant in the European workshop entitled “Building a network, breaking the barriers: Cushing’s disease in the age of the cross-border healthcare”. The event will gather clinicians from the main European centres of excellence and national and European stakeholders in order to create awareness on Cushing disease, the most common cause of endogenous Cushing Syndrome, and discuss on the relevance of the Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare, which foresees the creation of Centre of Excellences Networks on rare diseases. To register, please follow this link; for any questions, please contact Barbara Gonzato: barbara.gonzato@hkstrategies.com

September, 17-18, Milan (Italy): Modernization of healthcare systems
Active Citizenship Network will take part as discussant at the Congress on Health Systems Modernization and Health Sustainability held by the European Union of Private hospitals. The conference will aim to exchange on the content and goals of the EU strategy 2014-2020, considered as a priority by both Member States and the European highest offices. Read more

September, 18, Bucharest (Romania): Debating the Rights of EU Citizens Abroad
In the framework of the EU project U-Impact, Active Citizenship Network will participate as discussant to the EU webinar held by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau. Read more

September, 21-22, Island of Krk (Croatia): EU panel on equity crowdfunding renewable energy
In the framework of the EU project “Citizenergy-European citizens for renewable”, Active Citizenship Network will participate to the EU seminar focused on the new European platform for citizen investment in renewable energy. Read more

30th September - 4th October 2015, Cagliari (Italy): Thermae and Medical Wellness, integration between science, economy and tourism
What happens in the world of Thermae/Wellness? How we can manage the changing process? What we have to do? These are some of questions or focal points which will be presented and discussed during the FEMTEC Congress. The 68° General Assembly and international scientific congress of the World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy (FEMTEC) will take place in Sardinia Island. Click here for invitation and program.

October 1st, Brussels (Belgium): European Network on Elderly Pain
ECHO, the European Confederation of Care Home Organisations – has carried out a research on elderly chronic pain, pointing out the consequences of a lack of specific competence and training in health and care stuff, and the absence of special protocols for pain treatment and use of analgesics. To debate on it, ECHO organize a EU debate in Room ASP 3G3 in the European Parliament. The meeting is organizing in cooperation with Active Citizenship Network. For any questions, please contact Paola Bianchi: anaste@anaste.com

October, 2-3, Menorca Island (Spain): IV Meeting of EMNIPRE
The Director of the European Multidisciplinary Network In Pain Research and Education (EMNIPRE) is Dr. Jordi Moya Riera, deeply involved pain programme promoted by  Active Citizenship Network over the years. The main target of the meeting are specialist in pain therapy and leader of patient organizations. Limited seats available, for any questions please contact Daniel Pons: forumdolor@menorcacongress.com