On the 7-8 of November in Poznan, Poland, the Polish Presidency of the EU organised a conference entitled 'Solidarity in Health. Closing the health gap between European Union States'. The aim of the conference was to highlight the importance of solidarity in the healthcare field for European Member States, and to set out measures to decrease the inequalities that already exist between them. Differences in standards of care and treatment - for example

The Second World Conference of COPD Patient Organisations was held in Shanghai on 6-7 of November. The conference was organised by the International COPD Coalition (ICC), a not-for-profit body composed of patient organisations from around the world working to improve the health and access to care of patients with COPD. Former EFA President Marianella Salapatas represented EFA at the conference. Throughout the 2-day event - which generated significant

Following the success of the 1st EFA COPD Workshop focussing on prevention and diagnosis held in June, a 2nd Workshop was held on November 9th in the European Parliament in Brussels. This time the focus was on COPD care and research needs. The event gathered COPD patients, MEPs, representatives from the European Commission and the Polish EU Presidency, as well as partnering health NGOs. It was co-hosted by MEPs Sean Kelly and Karin Kadenbach. The

On the 22 of November, EFA marked the launch of its new book on respiratory allergies. The event took place at the European Parliament in Brussels. The aim of the EFA respiratory allergy book is to draw attention to the dramatic increase in allergies that is taking place. Approximately 20%-30% of the world's population are affected by some form of allergic reaction. Respiratory allergies are the most common allergies both in Europe and worldwide

The Council of the European Union, which represents EU Member States, has unanimously adopted conclusions at ministerial level on "prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of chronic respiratory diseases in children". These conclusions are now translated in all the 23 official languages of the European Union and available here, by following the link and selecting the language required. Although the conclusions are not legally binding they represent

The EFA Allergy Awareness Project was launched at the European Parliament on 22 November 2011, which coincided with the publication of the EFA Book on Respiratory Allergy in Europe: Raise Awareness, Relieve the Burden in English. The book included a Call to Action, which has since been placed online to electronically collect signatures for an eventual European Citizens’ Initiative through the European Commission. We would encourage all patients,

This book, published in November 2011, contains the first comprehensive survey of its kind conducted “by patients, for patients” reporting on the diagnosis, quality and accessibility of best practices on care and prevention of respiratory allergy across Europe, with shortfalls and successes judged by the patient organisations. This book was originally published in English, but translations have since been made available in many EFA member languages.

Brussels, 22 November 2011 - The statistics speak for themselves: 1 in every 2 Europeans will suffer from an allergy by 2015, but what's worse is that their chronic condition is very likely to be underdiagnosed and undertreated. This is the message of the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Association (EFA) to the European Parliament yesterday during the launch of its new book on respiratory allergies. EFA Press Release - EFA

Brussels, 15 November 2011 - EFA commeorates World COPD Day 2011 with a press relese to simultaneously acknowledge the work accomplished during the Second COPD Workshop hosted by MPs Seán Kelly and Karin Kadenbach at the European Parliament on 9 November. The meeting on the eve of World COPD Day 2011 successfully brought together policymakers, doctors, patients and other stakeholders to discuss the necessary directions for the research and treatment

EFA is the partner representing patients in a new two and a half year project funded by the EU Public Health Programme: Health based ventilation guidelines for Europe. The guidelines, which will be produced in collaboration with the multidisciplinary project partners in 10 countries, the Federation for European Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA), EFA, the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health and the EC Joint Research

EFA will hold an annual general meeting of members on the 6th of May, followed by a networking meeting on the 7th of May. Members will have the opportunity to give input about EFA policies and activities to better serve the interest of people with allergy, asthma and COPD and improve services for members. The networking day is entirely dedicated to sharing information on projects and policies at national level and disussing with colleagues from across

On the 25th and 26th of July EFA President Breda Flood attended a European Medicines Agency (EMA) workshop on reducing the burden of drug-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare, debilitating and sometimes fatal disease that has been identified as an adverse drug reaction to some medicines that affect immunological functions, despite the fact that other medicines associated with PML can bring major benefits. More information