Dear IASP Chapeter Presidents,
“Societal impact of pain”, Brussels, May 4th & 5th 2010
The discussions produced two very important outcomes. Firstly, when it comes to the treatment of pain, the European healthcare community still lacks broad consensus, understanding, as well as sommon and effective appraisal tools. Secondly, the unanimous recognition that treated pain patients cost national governments, economies and societies much less than untreated patients do.
The discussions also underlined the need for a multidisciplinary approach to pain (including rehabilitation) and the need for better practical education and training for health care professionals. GPs in particular – to improve health system co-ordination in many countries. The need for common definitions, tools and other evaluation systems to improve multidisciplinary and multinational analysis and comparisons, and exchange of best practices also emerged.
Since EFIC recognises the enormous importance and timeliness of this topic, SIP will also be the theme of the 2010 “European Week Against Pain” (EWAP) to be held in October 2010. The EFIC has been organising this increasingly influential awareness campaign every year, since 1999, with great advantages for Pain Medicine, at least in Europe. This is why the tradition will also continue this year with unchanged modalities.
Prof. Giustino Varrassi
EFIC President
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