EKHA NEWSLETTER June 2012
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www.ekha.eu
EKHA NEWSLETTER
June 2012
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www.ekha.eu
EU PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMME Page 3
EU MEDICAL RESEARCH Page 3
CEAPIR SURVEY Page 4
FILM ON KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION Page 4
EUROPEAN CHRONIC DISEASE ALLIANCE Page 5
2012 WORLD KIDNEY DAY Page 6
EUROPEAN NEWS Page 7
EVENTS Page 9
EKHA NEWSLETTER – June 2012
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EU PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMME
The Health for Growth Programme, currently being
discussed by the Council and the European Parliament
suggests a budget of 446 million Euros, i.e over 60 million
Euros per year.
The program aims to foster innovation in healthcare,
ensure more viable healthcare systems and improve well-
being of citizens.
The new Public Health Program will run from 2014 to
2020. Each year, a program and calls for proposals will be
published.
EKHA NEWSLETTER - June 2012
EKHA contacted Mrs Grossetête, rapporteur on the program, in order to ensure a reference to renal diseases
would be included. A letter and a complete information about CKD was sent to her early May.
The program will be discussed and voted in the ENVI (Environment and Health) committee on 20 June.
EU MEDICAL RESEARCH
Horizon 2020 – the EU Framework Programme for Research
and Innovation – is the financial framework implementing
Innovation Union. Running from 2014 to 2020 with a €80
billion budget, it will combine all research and innovation
funding currently provided in the Framework Programme
for Research and Technical Development, the innovation
related activities of the Competitiveness and Innovation
Framework Programme and the European Institute of
Innovation and Technology.
It was adopted by the Commission on 30 November 2011
and is currently being discussed in the Parliament and the
Council.
The rapporteur for health is Christian Silviu Busoi. EKHA sent
a letter to Mr. Busoi requesting the addition of a reference
to renal diseases in the program and is currently looking to
meet him. The program will be voted in the ITRE committee
on 9 October 2012.
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The conclusion of the survey is :
- Patients do not get the same access to care all around Europe
- They are not equally involved in making decisions about their own disease management.
- They do not know to whom they should complain in case they are dissatisfied with their care.
- They are not satisfactorily informed about all options they have when they are diagnosed with kidney
disease.
- They are often not diagnosed in time to have a say in one of the most important decisions in their lives.
The survey can be found here
CEAPIR survey on patient’s choice in dialysis
and access to treatment
EKHA NEWSLETTER - June 2012
The European Kidney Patients’ Federation (CEAPIR) carried out a
survey of patients across Europe on 'Patient choice in dialysis and
access to treatment' which aims to raise awareness of the lack of
information about renal replacement options and reveal whether
patient choice is secured. The results have been released on 26
April 2012.
The survey shows there is still a lot to do in terms of patients information and equal access to treatment.
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EKHA NEWSLETTER - June 2012
EUROPEAN CHRONIC DISEASE ALLIANCE
The European Chronic Disease Alliance met on 22 March 2012 in Brussels, during which members welcomed
and approved application for Alliance membership from the European COPD Coalition (ECC). Following the
approval of ECC membership, the Alliance is now comprised of 11 members.
Also at the meeting of 22nd March, members discussed the ECDA response to the Reflection Process on Chronic
Disease and the Alliance’s potential contribution to the European Innovation Partnership for Active and Healthy
Ageing. Other points of discussion included the creation of an ECDA website and the development of a unified
ECDA logo, which should feature all the logos of the individual member organisations.
Following the March discussion, on April 14th, the ECDA submitted its response to the stakeholder consultation
initiated by the Commission on the Reflection Process on Chronic Disease. The responses to the Commission’s
questionnaire were based on the ECDA Input Paper to the reflection process, which was jointly prepared by the
Alliance members and spear-headed by the European Respiratory Society.
During May 2012, the Alliance’s members carried out discussions around its potential involvement in the
European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. The Alliance has agreed to offer informal
support and assistance to the organisations/Action Groups which will commit to the Partnership and which
could benefit from advice or data from ECDA members.
The next meeting of ECDA is scheduled for 26th June 2012 in Brussels.
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2012 EKHA WORLD KIDNEY DAY EVENT
EKHA organized its 5th World Kidney Day campaign in Brussels on 6 March. The 2012 World Kidney Day
focused on the positive outcome of kidney transplantation and the life-saving aspect of organ donation.
This year’s event was divided in two parts: a press conference at lunch time and the MEP Group for Kidney
Health dinner in the evening.
The dinner was hosted by Frieda Brepoels MEP.
Both the press conference and the dinner in the European Parliament were a success. Journalists present
at the press conference showed a great interest in the issue currently faced by the EU in terms of kidney
transplantation.
THE MEP group for kidney health dinner attracted 50 participants, amongst which several MEP’s and
Health Attachés.
The event was sponsored by Abbott, Novartis and Roche
EKHA NEWSLETTER - June 2012
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Heidi Health Wiki launched by the Commission
Scotland first to introduce minimum price on alcohol
EKHA NEWSLETTER - June 2012
EUROPEAN NEWS
Scotland set the first legally-binding minimum price within the EU. From April
2013 onwards a 0.50£ (0.63€) minimum price for a unit of alcohol will be
introduced. The aim of this bill is to decrease crime level and to improve health
of the Scottish population. “It will help Scotland achieve a ‘cultural shift’ in its
unhealthy attitudes to alcohol,” said Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish health
secretary. "This policy will save lives – it’s as simple as that," she said.
Read the full article here
Climate changes and environment have an impact on health
“Ignorance ain’t bliss: it’s time to recognise the impact of the environment
and climate on health” says Annika Ahtonen, Policy Analyst for European
Policy Centre.
Read the commentary here
Heidi (Health in Europe: Information and Data Interface) has been
launched by the European Commission's Directorate-General for
Health & Consumers on 3 May 2012. Although Heidi is hosted by the
Commission, the contents will be written by European health experts
who are consequently responsible for their contributions and can
directly upload and edit information.
Heidi is an internet based tool; a new way to collect, up-date and share
information about health in Europe.
For more information click here
Scotland first to introduce minimum price on alcohol
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EKHA NEWSLETTER - March 2012
EUROPEAN NEWS
The 2012 Aging Report
The population of the EU is projected to reach 517
million in 2060. Nearly one third of the citizens will then
be aged 65 or over, says the Aging Report 2012.
According to the report published in May, the age profile
of the EU is expected to change dramatically in the
coming decades. The population of the EU will be slightly
higher in 2060 (517 million, up from 502 million in 2010).
While at the same time it will be much older. While
longer lives are a major achievement of European
societies, the ageing of the population also poses
significant challenges for their economies and welfare
systems.
More information to be found here
Doctors group warns EU health care access shrinking
Access to health care is declining in Europe, and Greece in particular faces a humanitarian crisis as it cuts
health and social spending, aid group Doctors of the World warned. Even priority patients such as pregnant
women and children are not getting the care they need in large European cities -- a problem that is linked to,
but also larger than, the eurozone crisis, told Olivier Bernard, President of medical charity Doctor of the Word.
Read the full article here
Find more on the health situation of Greece here
The European Commission wants new
antibiotics
“A post-antibiotic era means, in effect, an end to
modern medicine as we know it. Things as common
as strep throat or a child’s scratched knee could once
again kill,” Dr. Margaret Chan director general of the
World Health Organization said. In order to solve this
issue, the European Commission has teamed up with
a handful of pharmaceutical and biotech companies
to launch a new research program that will see the
drugmakers and scientists share information that
could be useful in developing new drugs.
Pharmaceutical companies usually do not want to
throw cash at antibiotics R&D. The problem is that
antibiotics, although one of the most widely used
medicines, don’t generate the financial returns they
get from other drugs. And it is these financial rewards
that drive investor sentiment, and share prices.
Read more here.
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EUROPEAN EVENTS
13-16 June 2012 HAI-Net - Annual meeting of healthcare-associated infections surveillance
network Stockholm
18-19 June 2012 Health Economics Symposium: creating a personalized medicine paradigm
for oncology Luxembourg
19-20 June 2012 5th meeting of the EUCERD (European Union Committe of Experts on Rare
Diseases) Luxembourg
27 June 2012 Alcohol harms you, others and the society - why does Europe need an
alcohol strategy? Brussels
28 June - 01 July 2012 Sub-nuclear structures and disease Cambridge
28 June - 01 July 2012 12th International symposium on mucopolyssaccharidosis and related
diseases Noordwijkerhout
08-12 July 2012 World Federation of Hemophilia World Congress Paris, France
09-11 July 2012 Active Ageing – the Potential for Society, Conference and Brokerage Event
Dublin
27-29 September 2012 9th European IUHPE Conference on Health Promotion Tallinn
28 February 2012 Regional and Local Initiatives Promoting Healthy and Active Ageing
Brussels, Belgium
8 March 2012 The Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation: Dealing with the present
Planning for the Future Brussels, Belgium
22 March 2012 Healthcare in Europe Geneva, Switzerland
27 March 2012 6th Annual Nutrition and Lifestyle Conference: Towards a Healthier
Future for European Citizens Brussels, Belgium
16-17 April 2012 Innovation in Healthcare without borders Brussels, Belgium
18-20 April 2012 Global eHealth Strategies Symposium Luxembourg
3-4 May 2012 High Level Conference on EU Health Programmes: Results and Future Perspectives Brussels, Belgium
7-9 May 2012 eHealth Week 2012 Copenhagen, Denmark
9-12 May 2012 19th European Congress on Obesity Lyon, France
23-24 May 2012 8th Annual World Care Congress Amsterdam, the Netherlands
EKHA NEWSLETTER - March 2012
EKHA MEMBERS’ EVENTS
7-10 June 2012 ISN Forefronts Symposium: Systems Biology and the Kidney, Ann Arbor,
Michigan, USA
12-14 June 2012 The Renal Association Conference 2012 Gateshead, England
15-18 September 2012 41st EDTNA/ERCA International Conference Strasbourg, France
20-23 September 2012 ISN Nexus Conference 2012: Bone and the Kidney Copenhagen, Denmark
5-7 October ISN Forefronts Symposium: Tubulointerstitial Disease in Diabetic
Nephropathy, Melbourne, Australia
6-9 October 2012 XLII National Congress of Spanish Society of Nephrology Maspalomas,
Gran Canaria, Spain
6-9 October 2012 4th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Nephrology Hamburg,
Germany
18-21 May 2013 50th ERA-EDTA Congress Istanbul, Turkey
31 May-4 June 2013 ISN World Congress of Nephrology 2013 Hong Kong