Allergy Track is a new mobile app which helps people suffering from allergy to stay on track with their allergic and respiratory symptoms during critical periods and helps measuring the impact of their allergy. It has been developed by Stallergenes with input from the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Associations (EFA) in a non-profit way. This mobile app follows the evolution of allergic disease and enables patients to:

The 7th Environmental Action Programme In April the ENVI committee of the European Parliament adopted amendments to the 7th Environmental Action Programme. According to the committee the EU should develop a strategy for indoor air quality and respect WHO indoor and outdoor air quality guidelines. EFA advocated for and welcomes this decision. A common comprehensive and urgent response is needed based on the recognition that outdoor and indoor air

EFA participated in the EUPATI 2013 Conference in Rome On the 19th of April patients' advocates, academia and other stakeholders met at the EUPATI 2013 Conference (European Patients Academy on Therapeutic Innovation) focused on real world healthcare hot topics. At the meeting EFA was represented by Board Member Lina Buzermaniene. EUPATI projects aims at building patients' learning platform in research and development (R&D). It is providing tools

New website for medicines under additional monitoring launched The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has introduced a new webpage related to medicines under additional monitoring. Patients and healthcare professionals can always check whether a certain medicine is subject to additional control on the Agency's website which will be reviewed and updated every month. Medicines under additional monitoring will have a black inverted triangle displayed in

EFA Oxygen Harmonisation Project In the last two months EFA sent more than 50 questions in different European languages to the European Aviation safety Agency (EASA) regarding the use of oxygen on planes. EASA is now willing to help EFA to address this issue. However, since the organisation deals mainly with safety issues, EFA will have to address the European Commission responsible for rights of passengers. In the meantime, EFA continues collecting

EFA “Meet and Greet the European Union Institutions 2013” Training  This year’s “Meet and Greet the European Union Institutions” training combines basic and advanced training to participants. All members that are willing to participate should fill in the registration form by June, 10th 2013. We will confirm your participation by then as we only have 12 places available that will be allocated on the first came, first served basis taking

Real-time information on allergenic pollen in the EU is not covered by EU legislation It is estimated that more than 24 % adults (80 million) and up to 40 % children in Europe are suffering from various allergies triggered and aggravated in large measure by airborne allergenic pollens. However, in contrast to air pollutants, there is no obligation to monitor the pollen situation in the European Union and the European Commission has no intention to

The European Health Report 2012 The European Health report 2012 describing the overall improvements in health in the WHO European region has now been made available on-line. The general report, published every three years, aims to support and provide the evidence base for the strategic objectives and priorities of Health 2020, the new European policy framework to support actions across government and society for health and wellbeing, endorsed in

EFA Funding Partners Meeting Our funding partners meeting also took place on the 11 March at EFA Office in Brussels. Every year, EFA invites its funders in a transparent way to meet with the EFA team and the board and discuss progress. For EFA, its also an opportunity to hear from sponsors on their views on supporting EFA in our mission. EFA sincerely thanks all our funding partners for their contribution into our core as well as project funding

Longfonds contribution to patients’ involvement in research EFA member Longfonds featured in article from an international medical journal for its efforts in a government initiative aiming to empower patient participation within lung research. The unique study uses case studies to demonstrate the added value patients provide to research projects when their input is valued and integrated successfully. In a special issue on Asthma Research this month

  EU Air Quality cover photo courtesy of: Francois De Ribaucourt www.deribaucourt.com EFA contributes to newly published HEAL report on how coal is affecting health The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), of which EFA is a member, launched a report in March entitled ‘The Unpaid Health Bill: how coal power plants make up sick’, showing the negative impact air pollution, and in particular emissions from coal power plants, have on health.

EFA Partners with Work Package 9 on e-Newsletter and Questionnaire in U-BIOPRED Over the past several months since the U-BIOPRED annual meeting in January, EFA has partnered with the European Lung Foundation (ELF), Asthma UK, Longfonds and other partners from Work Package 9 (WP9) to generate the U-BIOPRED Spring 2013 newsletter. The newsletter includes an interview with Xian Yang (a PhD student and researcher in the project), patients’ stories