My Voice Matters! 21 November 2017 Exhibition Space European Parliament

The Value Added Medicines Group is a sector group of Medicines for Europe which aims to optimise, rethink and reinvent medicines based on known molecules and by bringing untapped innovation to improve care delivery. One year after the launch of the Value Added Medicines group, Medicines for Europe would like to support a European Parliament exhibition to raise awareness on patient’s requirements and preferences from the healthcare agenda. The exhibition will be hosted by Lieve Wierinck MEP, and supported by civic & patients partner association, such as European Federation of Neurological Associations, European Huntington Association and Active Citizenship Network. Please register here

Cittadinanzattiva officially involved in the ECDC Technical Advisory Group
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) appointed Cittadinanzattiva in its Technical Advisory Group for the next three years. Cittadinanzattiva - through its EU branch Active Citizenship Network - is the only civic organisation at EU level officially involved in the ECDC Technical Advisory Group, dealing with increasing vaccine coverage. The first meeting, held last 27-28 September in Sweden, focused on national campaigns and challenges in three main areas: HPV, measles and mandatory vaccination. Read more

Brain, Mind, and Pain Patient-Centred Innovation Grant
The Brain, Mind, and Pain Patient-Centred Innovation Grant (BMP GRANT) has been initiated by Pain Alliance Europe and supported by Grünenthal Group with the main aim of encouraging patient-centred innovation having, as a result, the improvement of the life conditions of pain.
Access the BMP Grant to transform your ideas to improve pain patients' living conditions into projects!
Please fill out the BMP Grant 2018   application within the application period, ending on the 31st December 2017. Please consult the Guidelines for the application before proceeding. Should you have any questions please contact the BMP Grant Secretariat. Read more and apply here.

Spain: Menorca hosts the First Multidisciplinary Summit of Scientific Societies Against Pain
A total of nine scientific societies will meet next weekend in Menorca to address pain from a comprehensive and multidisciplinary perspective. It is the first event of its kind in Spain and aims to meet the different needs of medical, scientific and health specialties to share the main challenges of the future in research, training and healthcare. The initiative is organised by “Sine Dolore European Pain Foundation”, led by Dr. Jordi Moya, and it will be realised in the framework of the VI Multidisciplinary Pain Meeting Master Class, scheduled for 20- 22 October 2017. Read more (EN – ES)

Being treated in another Member State: leaflets in 24 languages now available online
Active Citizenship Network, in collaboration with 24 European associations involved in the initiative, has published free guides to help EU citizens in need of planned care in another EU Member State. The leaflets were drafted in the framework of the European communication campaign “Patients' rights have no borders” launched in 2016 with the support of Novartis Oncology. To download the leaflets, click here.

Integration of SIP in EU Health Policy Platform
Martin Seychell, Deputy Director General for Health and Food Safety in the European Commission, announced at the SIP 2017 Symposium in Malta that the European Commission is following SIP’s lead and has launched the EU Health Policy Platform where the societal impact of pain is included as a topic for an “Expert Group”. The "Societal Impact of Pain" (SIP) is an international platform created as a joint initiative of European Pain Federation EFIC® and the pharmaceutical Grünenthal GmbH. Co-operation partners for SIP 2016 and SIP 2017 are Pain Alliance Europe and Active Citizenship Network.
Read the interview to Sam Kynman, Executive Director of the European Pain Federation EFIC, about the relevance of this new platform for the SIP initiatives.

Italy: X Foresight Training Course
The Gianni Benzi’ Pharmacological Research Foundation organises annually the high-level short courses in Regulatory Sciences focused on the rules governing the products for human use in Europe, marketing authorization procedures, experimental processes, innovative and advanced therapies, risks and benefits for patients. This year (Pavia, 27th – 28th October 2017), the course entitled “The European Medicines Regulatory Network: Present And Future” is organised in collaboration with the Master in “Regulatory Sciences – GIANNI BENZI” (University of Pavia) and the Italian Society for Regulatory Activities (SIAR). Active Citizenship Network has been invited as a panelist expert in advocacy at EU level. Read more

Embracing Carers new global program launched
On 5 October 2017 the new global program titled “Embracing Carers” was launched. It aims to increase awareness and discussion about the often-overlooked needs of carers. This initiative is led by Merck in collaboration with leading carer organisations around the world. Read more

Consultation to help law enforcements combat crime in the digital age
The European Commission launched a public consultation on improving cross-border access to electronic evidence. Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Vera Jourová, already presented three legislative options to improve access to e-evidence during Justice Council (last June 8th). Based on the discussion between Justice Ministers and input of the public, the Commission will prepare a legislative proposal. The consultation is available here and will be open until 27 October 2017.

Italy: MOBILITIME kicks off to support a sustainable urban mobility
During the annual European Mobility Week Cittadinanzattiva renews its commitment to contribute to spreading a culture of sustainable mobility in Italy. Under the motto "It's time to move!", Cittadinanzattiva has launched "MOBILITIME", an awareness campaign consisting of three initiatives: local initiatives led by  volunteers who will distribute ad hoc materials, inform and gather reports; an online consultation on sustainable mobility and new forms of mobility; last but not least, a photo contest. Read more (IT - EN language) 

Active for Young Professionals
Active Citizenship Network is glad to announce the renewal of the agreement for the next 3 years with John Cabot University, which will enable students and graduates to apply for internships in EU Affairs in Rome and Brussels. Read more

Italy: What is happening within the civil society
The EU-Russia Civil Society Forum interviewed Mariano Votta Director Active Citizenship Network for its campaign "What is happening in civil society: Italy", whose purpose is to provide a better understanding of the state of civil society in several EU Member States. Read the interview

23 October 2017, Brussels (Belgium): Fight the Fakes partner meeting
Fight the Fakes is a campaign that aims to raise awareness about the dangers of fake medicines and Active Citizenship Network has decided to join in September 2014. The first face-to-face partner meeting of the EU actors involved in this international initiative is planned in Brussels. Read more

25-27 October, Houston (USA): Cities Changing Diabetes Summit
The Secretary General of Cittadinanzattiva, Antonio Gaudioso, will participate at the Cities Changing Diabetes Summit, specifically at the Rome panel discussion. The aim of the Summit is to improve understanding of the driving factors behind the rise of diabetes in urban settings, then share and apply that knowledge to real-world solutions for people to live healthier lives. Read More

7 November 2017, Brussels (Belgium): Private Hospitals in Europe: Supporting Sustainable Health Systems
The official launch of the European Union of Private Hospitals (UEHP) Factbook “Private Hospitals in Europe: Supporting Sustainable Health Systems” will be held on 7 November 2017 from 11 AM to 12.30 PM at the European Parliament in Brussels. Read more

8 November 2017, Brussels (Belgium): Defeating antimicrobial resistance in European hospitals. The future of hygiene in the healthcare sector
EURACTIV organises this workshop to discuss the way forward for healthcare in Europe and how hygiene can be improved in hospitals. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect up to 15% of hospitalised patients. Persistent microbial contamination of hospital surfaces and growing drug resistance of pathogens are among the main causes. Traditionally used cleaning methods show limitations in controlling pathogen contamination. Please register here

13-15 November 2017, Rome (Italy): International Conference on Vaccines and Immunology
International Conference on Vaccines and Immunization is the best platform where people can deliberate the novel methods to prevent diseases and increasing immunity levels. This conference had especially articulated with the different topics like bacterial vaccines, viral vaccines, travel and edible vaccines etc. and cardiac immunopathy, neurological and respiratory immunopathology.
Cittadinanzattiva has been invited to participate to this conference, titled “Latest Cutting Edge discoveries in the field of Vaccinology”. Read more