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Monthly Newsletter edited by Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network
Civic Activism | Patients' Rights | Consumers' Rights | Support ACN
Year 6th, number 56 - March 2018
SPECIAL EDITION ON ACN COMMITMENT ON PATIENTS’ RIGHT
TO AVOID PAIN
Highlight

Active Citizenship Network launch the second edition of the bi-annual research-project at the European level “EU Civic Prize on Chronic Pain - Collection of good practices” with the aim to continue to give evidence on existing good practices in several European countries in terms of struggle against pain. In particular, this second edition allows us to give continuity to the successful collection of good practices in the struggle against pain started by ACN in 2015 and expanding the “agora” of manager of good practices on pain, encouraging the exchange of experiences among health professionals, healthcare providers, Institutions, civic associations and patient advocacy groups.
The Application period has started! You can now enter your good practice by completing an on-line form. LINK TO FORM HERE!
Closing date for receiving your submission is 31 December 2018. Read more

More information

Focus

It is a pleasure invite you to the meeting that Sine Dolore European Pain Foundation is organizing in the European Parliament on April 26 from 11.00 to 12:30 :

From local to global: promoting societal impact of pain
“SINE DOLORE WORLD PARK”

The event is hosted by the MEP Rosa Estaràs Ferragut and realized in partnership with Active Citizenship Network.

The aim of the initiative is to present to the EU Institutions and stakeholders the unique experience of the SINE DOLORE WORLD PARK, the first theme park in the world against pain and for the quality of life. During the event will be shared and discussed other awareness experiences, gathered across Europe, and their contribution to promote a societal impact of pain.

-------> CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE (registration is mandatory by 16 of April)

News
Patients' Rights

SIP selected by the European Commission as a thematic network 2018
The Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) is one of three topics selected for the prestigious European Commission’s Thematic Networks program in 2018! This fantastic recognition from the Commission demonstrates the importance of our work to raise awareness about the impact of pain, share expertise and develop strategies to improve pain management.
Pain isn’t just a problem for the person suffering: it has a wider impact on our health system, our economy and our society. That’s why the European Pain Federation EFIC, Pain Alliance Europe, Active Citizenship Network and Grünenthal joined forces to build the Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) platform. Together, these four partners are aiming to raise awareness about the wider impact of pain, bring stakeholders together to share expertise and develop strategies to improve pain management. The selection as one of just three topics for the European Commission’s Thematic Networks program is an outstanding achievement and an important step forward for SIP’s work. Read more

Artist against pain: A way to make visible the invisible on chronic pain through the arts

There are online on the FB page of Bioforme the videos of the cultural event realized last March 17 in Milan, Italy, aimed to link artists and advocacy groups on the topic of chronic pain.
The event was an occasion to raise awareness on the topic, share patient testimonies, present good practices, debate an overview of the situation across Europe, show news on the commitment of the EU Institutions on the topic and the most recent achievements.
In particular you can watch:

• A Framework on the phenomenon in EU by Daniela Quaggia from Cittadinanzattiva–Active Citizenship Network (part A and B)
• Cannabis in pain therapy by Prof. Fabio Gerardo Rubino, No Pain Foundation.
• The testimony of Anna Kleszcz, a Polish woman afflicted by chronic pain and since years an activist on the topic at European level.
• A best practice recognizes at EU level presented by Federica Alemanno from IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy, and carried out by her equipe. Alemanno is a Psychologist and Neuropsychologist, Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine, Experimental Neurology. She is one of the winners of the first edition of the ACN “European Civic Prize on Chronic Pain” for Innovation category  with the initiative "Non pharmacological treatment of chronic pain: a multimodal approach".
• The poetry read by Milton Fernandez
Rita Tekeyan’s concert.

Memorandum of Understanding between Pain Alliance Europe and Active Citizenship Network signed
Pain Alliance Europe and Active Citizenship Network have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation between the BMP Patient Centred Innovation Grant, managed by PAE, and the European Civic Prize on Chronic Pain managed by ACN. This agreement reinforce the already strong cooperation in the field on chronic pain between the two organizations and, first of all, allow them to better merge their initiative. Read more


Joop van Griensven, President PAE and Mariano Votta, Director Active Citizenship Network

 

II° Edition “EU Civic Prize on Chronic Pain - Collection of good practices”: promotional tour
Active Citizenship Network, in partnership with its international partners, promotes a series of meetings to spread the announcement concerning the Second Edition of the European Civic Prize on Chronic Pain.
• The first stage of the promotional tour took place in Brussels at the European Parliament on the past 24th January at the event promoted by Active Citizenship Network on headache pain.
• The second was in Italy, in Florence, the 17 of February in the "ICF Course: International Classification of Disability and Health" organized by the ANASTE-Humanitas Foundation.
• The third, on March 17 in Milan, during the cultural event "Artists against pain" organized by Bioforme in collaboration with the Active Citizenship Network and No Pain Foundation.
• The fourth, again in Italy, the past March 20 in Catanzaro, as part of the II ° level Master on Palliative Care organized by the "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro. In this occasion, the SIP 2017 Proceedings was distributed to the participants.
• The fifth is scheduled for May 18-19 at Serra San Bruno (Vibo Valentia), during the XV National Gerontological Conference on Anthropological and Clinical Aspects of the Fragile Elder, with a presentation by the Scientific Coordinator of the European Confederation of Care Home Organitation (ECHO).
These outreach initiatives are addressed to professionals and social-health workers, hospitalization and health-care structures, patient associations, institutions and stakeholders involved in guaranteeing the right of patients to avoid unnecessary suffering.

Shaping a painless future for Cluster Headache
In occasion of the “Cluster Headache Awareness Day 2018”, last 21 of March, experts announced new options for patients suffering to headache pain. Read the interview (IT language) to PhD, MD Paolo Rossi, Alleanza Cefalalgici Cluster and vice president of the European Headache Alliance. Rossi is one of the winners of the first edition of the ACN “European Civic Prize on Chronic Pain” for Patients’ Empowerment with its work on cluster headache patients.

The new European Pain Federation (EFIC) Education Platform is online
The EFIC Education Platform was recently launched to present the most comprehensive selection of recorded lectures and presentations hosted by EFIC. Read more on contents focused on cancer pain.

PAE-Survey on chronic pain 2018
As Board Member of Pain Alliance Europe, Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network is inviting people with chronic pain or their carers to fill in this short survey on the effect of their chronic pain on their quality of life, their work situation and about any financial help they receive. Deadline is April 15th. Fill the online questionnaire (available in different languages)

Psychotropic drugs and driving: the need for an harmonization debated at the EU Parliament
Hosted by MEP Isabella De Monte, the event titled  “Psychotropic drugs and driving: the need for an harmonisation of European policies concerning their medical use by drivers” was realized last 27 March 2018 at the EU Parliament in Bruxelles in order to exchange opinions regarding different approaches of the implementation in Member States of the Third Driving Licence Directive (2006/126/EC). During the meeting was underlined the need for a harmonisation of European policies concerning the medical use of the psychotropic drugs by drivers, i.e., opioid drugs for pain therapy.

Events

18 April 2018, Malta: Maltese conference to present pain research results
Impressing results from the Maltese Research Study related to quality of life and impact of pain on Maltese Citizens will be presented and discussed togehter with representatives from the Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) representatives. The conference is organised by two great partners of Active Citizenship Network, Malta Health Network and No Pain Foundation in collaboration with several Maltese organisations and is supported by governmental institutions. To know more click here.

28 April - 6 May Menorca (Spain): IV edition of the “Sine Dolore World Park”
The Sine Dolore World Park is a totally unusual and unparalleled event at an international level, because all of Menorca becomes, for a few days, a theme park against pain and for the quality of life. The event count on  the absolute involvement of the entire Menorcan society and its political, economic, military and ecclesiastical institutions. Read more (ES language)

3-6 May Menorca (Spain): Pain Forum
Join the Pain Forum on Menorca with 16 conferences and round table about pain where more than 1000 participants are expected. Further information can be found here.

6 May Menorca (Spain): Making visible the invisible on chronic pain: sharing successful experiences from Spain to Europe
The event is promoted by Sine Dolore European Pain Foundation and Active Citizenship Network in the framework of the IV edition of the “Sine Dolore World Park”. The event represents the “Pain Euro-Mediterranean Coalition Annual Meeting 2018” with the aim to facilitate the exchange of experiences among the manager of good practices in the area of chronic pain. To know more click here

12 May 2018 Malta: “Rehabilitation and reintegration of Patients with Chronic pain and Fibromyalgia in the work force”
Active Citizenship Network has been invited to the ENFA General Assembly and high level conference titled “Rehabilitation and reintegration of Patients with Chronic pain and Fibromyalgia in the work force”. The conference will take place under the auspices of HE the President of Malta Ms Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca from 9-12 am in Malta. In that occasion, ACN and ENFA will communicate their strengthened partnership in the field of pain relief. To know more click here

8 June in Gozo (Malta) and 9 June in Malta: “Patients’ Charter – Rights and Obligations”
Active Citizenship Network has been invited as speaker in two conferences organized by National Patients' Organisation-Malta to empower leader of advocacy groups and citizens in the healthcare sector. Starting from the experience of the “European charter of patients' rights”, the meeting will be an occasion also to provide evidence about the respect of the patients' right when dealing with various causes and illnesses  and avoid unnecessary pain across Europe. For further information, contact: npo.malta@gmail.com

16 June 2018 Lisbon (Portugal): “Together by Pain”
The event “Together by Pain”, opened to national patients associations with chronic pain will have the participation as partner of Active Citizenship Network and the endorsement of the MEPs Interest Group “European Patients’ Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare”. 
The initiative is organized by the Portuguese Associação de Doentes de Dor Crónica dos Açores, ADDCA and the portuguese MEP Sofia Ribeiro and has stakeholders in Portugal and Europe. To know more, please contact Maria Teresa Flor-de-Lima: mtflordelima@gmail.com

 

Credits
Director and Editor in chief: Mariano Votta
Editors: Daniela Quaggia
Coordination and Production: Giacomo D'Orazio 

To contribute, plase write to: mail@activecitizenship.net
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