The 6th event of the Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) will address anyone involved in pain policy e.g. healthcare professionals, politicians, representatives of pain advocacy groups, insurances, health authorities, regulators and budget holders.

 What?
Four are the topics that will be discussed during four different working groups:

• Pain as a quality indicator for health care
• Chronic Pain: a disease or multi-morbidity?
• The relevance of pain in cancer care and rehabilitation
• Pain, rehabilitation and reintegration of workers in the workforce

Please register by using this link. After receipt of application for registration you will be notified on the status of your registration. For further information please visit the SIP website.

When and Where?

• May 23, 2016: European Parliament, 60 rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60, B-1047 - Bruxelles/Brussels
• May 24, 2016: Concert Noble, Rue d'Arlon 82-84, B-1040 - Bruxelles/Brussels

Who is involved?
The scientific framework of the “Societal Impact of Pain” (SIP) platform is under the responsibility of the European Pain Federation EFIC®. Cooperation partners for SIP 2016 are Pain Alliance Europe (PAE) and Active Citizenship Network (ACN).The pharmaceutical company Grünenthal GmbH is responsible for funding and non-financial support (e.g. logistical support). The scientific aims of the SIP symposia have been endorsed by a large number of international and national pain advocacy groups, scientific organisations and authorities.
To read more about the involvement of Active Citizenship Network click here.

A Multi-Stakeholder Platform in Europe
The "Societal Impact of Pain" (SIP) is an international platform created in 2010 as a joint initiative of European Pain Federation EFIC® and the pharmaceutical Grünenthal GmbH and aims for:

• raising awareness of the relevance of the impact that pain has on our societies, health and economic systems
• exchanging information and sharing best-practices across all member states of the European Union
• developing and fostering European-wide policy strategies & activities for an improved pain care in Europe (Pain Policy).

The platform provides opportunities for discussion for health care professionals, pain advocacy groups, politicians, insurances, representatives of health authorities, regulators and budget holders.

Relevant numbers

• over 200 registered participants, representing 28 nationalities.
• over 160 organisations endorsed SIP 2016 (and over 300 organisations have endorsed the SIP symposia in the past).
• high patronage of the Italian Ministry of Health
• 20 MEP supporting (16 actively involved in the program)
• 82 persons on the program

Documents 

• Abstract & Background Booklet
• Flyer
• Fact sheet “The societal impact of pain”
• Fact sheet “Pain as a quality indicator for healthcare”
• Fact sheet “Pain, rehabilitation and the reintegration of workers in the workforce”
• Fact sheet “The relevance of pain in cancer care and rehabilitation”
• Fact sheet “Chronic pain: underlying symptom or a disease in its own right?”
• Media advisory
• Guidance for journalists seeking short-term accreditation on 23 of May 2016
• Press release on 23 of May: Experts convene to tackle the societal impact of pain and urge decision makers to prioritise pain care in Europe
• Press release on 24 of May: Europeans patients continue to be denied rights to pain treatment
• Press release on 24 of May: Now there is no excuse - Time for EU leaders to act on the societal impact of pain
• Press release on 24 of May: Poor treatment of pain in Europe can no longer be ignored
• Press release on 24 of May: Health policy “needs to prioritise chronic pain”
• Watch the trailer SIP 2016
• See the photo gallery on 23 of May 2016
• See the photo gallery on 24 of May 2016

(Last update: May 2016)