In 2014, Active Citizenship Network has started a research-project at the European level with the aim to give evidence on existing good practices in several European countries in terms of struggle against pain. The research was presented in Brussels last October 2nd with the involvement of EU and National Institutions, professionals, civic and patient associations, companies and other relevant stakeholders. The meeting was realized with the official patronage of the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers in the context of the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and the official patronage of the Italian Ministry of Health.
The Informal Meeting of the European Health Ministers was held on 22 and 23 September in Milan (Italy) and was chaired by Italian Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin. It addressed the following issues: palliative care and pain therapy, fight against Ebola, innovative drugs and cancer prevention.
Last 17th November patients (Pain Alliance Europe, PAE) and citizens (Active Citizenship Network, ACN) called for urgent action for chronic pain management at a national and EU level. At the European Economic Social Committee, they presented data and Recommendations in order to urgently ask policy makers to prioritize chronic pain at an EU level.
The 5th Edition of the annual SIP event (November 17-18th) promoted in Brussels by the European Pain Federation-EFIC was the occasion to have a discussion involving key stakeholders in Europe in order to define what are the needs to ensure that chronic pain and palliative care become long term EU and National Health priorities.
The annual Report of the Ministry of Health sent to the Italian Parliament on law no. 38/10, the law establishing the right to not suffer, starts with data provided by Cittadinanzattiva-Tribunal for Patients’ Rights, demonstrating the strong commitment of Cittadinanzattiva on the topic.
This is what emerged from the Report sent by the Italian Minister of Health, Beatrice Lorenzin, to the Parliament concerning the current implementation level of Law no. 38/10 on the access to palliative care and pain therapy.
It is a big research done by National Agency for regional healthcare services (Age.na.s) and the Agency of Civic Evaluation of Cittadinanzattiva involving 287 treatment centres, 286 local associations, 241 équipes and 594 citizens all over Italy. The assessment was presented in Rome last November 7h The focus was on pediatrics and obstetrics, but also on emergency, multiculturality, intensive therapy and “hospital without pain”.
In Italy, the topic of “humanization of treatment” was put this year for the first time in the Operational Plan led by Italian Ministry of Health called “Pact for Health 2014-2016” that invites regions to do all necessary interventions that has to do with structural, organizational and communicational aspects of care. This plan also includes drafting an annual program of humanization of treatments with at least one project activity concerning professionals training and organizational changes.
Last December 1st, Antea Onlus, an Italian association created to assist patients in the final state of their diseases, awarded the national coordinator of Cittadinanzattiva - Tribunal for patients' rights for his commitment in the diffusion process of a palliative care culture.
The 1st edition of the project “Young Against Pain” awarded 30 under-40 Italian researchers. The three winning projects participated to the 15th World Congress on Pain and will be involved in research activities at the University of Parma.
After Active Citizenship Network, a new partner join the worldwide campaign to fight fake medicines: the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).