European Antibiotic Awareness Day
This week celebrates European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD), the annual European Union initiative to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance as an increasing global public health threat and to promote the prudent use of antibiotics. To mark EAAD, EMA launched a social media campaign to highlight the importance of using antibiotics prudently. A set of info-cards focuses on what patients, healthcare professionals, veterinarians, health-leaders, journalists and the pharmaceutical industry in their respective roles can do on a daily basis to make sure that these important medicines are used wisely. Download the info cards here
EAACI-EFA - Statement on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, supported by the European Parliament Interest Group on Allergy and Asthma
The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) and the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA), the two organisations coordinating the Secretariat of the European Parliament Interest Group on Allergy and Asthma, warmly welcome the European Commission's Beating Cancer Plan presented in February 2020. Coupled with the Horizon Europe EU Mission for cancer research, the initiatives provide a well-developed framework to address the challenges posed by cancer in the EU.
As one of the leading causes of mortality globally and the second cause of premature death from non-communicable diseases (representing 26% of the total number of deaths in the EU in 2016), cancer is undoubtedly one of the biggest health challenges of our times, next to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
We applaud the ambitious scope of the Beating Cancer Plan, encompassing prevention, access to care and better quality of life; while supporting a health-in-all-policies approach with an emphasis on tackling the environmental determinants of cancer. Actions under this framework have the potential to add value to other non-communicable disease areas such as allergy and asthma , which also impose a massive burden on Europeans' lives and pockets.
Indeed, allergy and asthma are two of the most common chronic diseases in Europe, currently affecting more than 150 million citizens across the region. Healthy environments play a crucial role in the prevention and control of these diseases, which are predicted to affect half of all Europeans by 2025.
Our statement lays out the multiple correlations existing between cancer, on the one hand, and allergy and asthma on the other . Shared risk factors include air pollution, tobacco smoking and exposure to dangerous chemicals, which may impact the severity or incidence of allergy and asthma symptoms. Furthermore, it discusses the need for improved access to healthcare, including timely diagnosis, in a wide range of non-communicable diseases in addition to cancer. Also highlighted are the benefits of patients' and healthcare professionals' participation in health decision-making processes, including research and evidence-based policies.
The statement is underpinned by the hope that the focus of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan on the guiding principles of prevention, access, and participation , will set a useful precedent for addressing other burdensome non-communicable diseases, including allergy and asthma.
Please click here to access the full statement
NAS-JM Position Paper Translations
The EAACI NAS-JMs have translated two important EAACI position papers in your language! You can find the translations to Albanian, Bulgarian, Czech, Greek, Hungarian, Georgian, Romanian, Spanish, Turkish and Italian on our Media Library.
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Atanaskovic-Markovic et al
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EAACI Digital Congress 2020 - Scientific Content
The EAACI Digital Congress 2020 is now over but most of the Congress scientific content is still available (for registered delegates) on the EAACI Digital Congress 2020 platform (virtual.eaaci.org) for a period of 6 months after the Congress. For all of those who were not registered, the content is also available in the form of thematic packages, to be purchased on the EAACI Media Library eShop. You can have access to our selection of packages now and purchase the one that fits you best!
European Parliament adopts resolution for better management of chronic diseases
The European Parliament adopted on Friday a resolution highlighting the need for a better management of chronic diseases. The adopted text is available at https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0205_EN.html.
Several milestones were achieved following the combined lobbying efforts:
1. Expansion of ECDA mandate to cover chronic diseases
2. European reference networks for chronic diseases
3. Recognition of the high prevalence of chronic diseases and need for action
4. Prioritisation of prevention
5. Implementation of “health in all policies”
6. Stronger role for the EMA in monitoring and managing drug shortages
7. Call for a European Health Union
Ioana Agache, on behalf of the ExCom EU lobbying group
Several milestones were achieved following the combined lobbying efforts:
1. Expansion of ECDA mandate to cover chronic diseases
2. European reference networks for chronic diseases
3. Recognition of the high prevalence of chronic diseases and need for action
4. Prioritisation of prevention
5. Implementation of “health in all policies”
6. Stronger role for the EMA in monitoring and managing drug shortages
7. Call for a European Health Union
Ioana Agache, on behalf of the ExCom EU lobbying group
COVID-19 resource centre
The EAACI community is united in disseminating new research and knowledge on COVID-19. Find some of the most useful related content on our dedicated webpage, to better serve you and your patients. More resources on COVID-19 will be added as they are released by our community of experts (last update 28.10.2020).
A new direction for Allergy and Asthma in Europe
The European Parliament Interest Group on Allergy and Asthma convened its first meeting of the 2019-2024 legislature on 20 November 2019, laying out the route to policy successes in Europe for allergy and asthma research, prevention and quality management.
Hosted by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Sirpa Pietikäinen and Cristian-Silviu Bușoi, leading Interest Group members, the meeting explored policy improvements to address two of the most prevalent chronic diseases, which affect one in three Europeans and represent an ever-growing burden on societies and healthcare systems.
Allergic diseases and asthma prevention as a priority for the incoming Commission: Wojciech Kalamarz (European Commission DG SANTE) highlighted that chronic diseases’ prevention will be a priority of the Von der Leyen Commission and called on Member States to increase investment in prevention, noting the cost-effectiveness of preventive measures.
Taking action across sectors building on the “exposome” concept: Prof Ioana Agache (Past-President, European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)) advocated for policies looking at the interconnections between human, animal and plant health, and food and water safety to improve prevention in the field of allergy and asthma, which are essentially multifactorial diseases stemming mainly from biological responses to a variety of environmental triggers and less from individual-genetic factors.
Improving allergen labelling to better protect patients: Salvatore D’Acunto (European Commission DG GROW) noted the importance of fragrance allergens labelling for patients. He stated that the Commission is exploring different on- and off-product labelling options, and invited stakeholders to respond to the ongoing public consultation on fragrance labelling.
Interconnecting the health, air quality and climate change agendas came across as a key message from representatives of the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, the European Environmental Bureau and EAACI. The EU Green Deal has the potential to deliver important steps in this direction, by allowing a cross sectoral approach to air pollution, investment in sustainable agriculture and green financing – with the promise of considerable benefits to the health of future generations. Prof Stefano del Giacco (EAACI Vice-President Education and Speciality) underlined the importance of efficient city planning to reduce risks associated with exposures, as well as registries, machine-learning, and integrated surveillance networks to monitor air quality as tools to provide independent evidence and data support for science-based policy-making. MEP Karima Delli, Chair of the European Parliament TRAN committee, reaffirmed her commitment to reducing emissions from the transport sector, linked with many chronic diseases including allergy and asthma.
A joint call for increased research funding and accelerated uptake of personalised medicine: Reflecting on MEP Dr Cristian-Silviu Bușoi’s perspectives, Dr Amalia-Irina Vlad (European Commission DG RTD) encouraged the allergy and asthma community to seize the opportunity of an enhanced Horizon Europe budget for research and innovation. Prof Vera Mahler (Paul-Ehrlich-Institut) noted that research should address the existing knowledge gap between biomarkers and clinical outcomes so that new treatments and products can be authorised. EAACI President Prof Marek Jutel highlighted the central role of implementing translational research and real world evidence to foster the integration of patient-oriented and population-based studies. Mikaela Odemyr, President of the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations (EFA), called for universal patient access to personalised medicine which requires a reorientation of healthcare systems, with a focus on individual patients’ needs.
“We need better national programmes and their implementation, early action to protect our biodiversity and improved urban environments to prevent allergies and asthma. We need European Allergy and Asthma reference centre, we need more efforts to improve urban air quality and indoor air quality, we need better information about chemicals in our daily environment and food ingredients. We need to enter a new era where no one suffers from allergy and asthma.” – MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen.
Further insights from the event are available here.