News Release

Is the EU looking to save €100 billion a year? Take action on lung diseases!

Book Announcement

European Respiratory Society

Respiratory diseases are one of the leading causes of death and suffering in the EU. The challenge Europe is facing in this field goes far beyond public health: lung diseases currently cause an annual cost of €100 billion and threaten the Europe 2020 strategy and the goal to have 75% of the working population employed and productive. Leading worldwide experts1 of ERS, alarmed by the situation, have taken a proactive stance and completed an 18-month reflection process and the result - the European Respiratory Roadmap - is today presented to the European Council, Commission and Parliament. The Roadmap outlines key recommendations and respiratory health priorities for the next decade.

The ERS is therefore today urging the EU to stand by the promises already made by its health ministers last December2 and to urgently take appropriate measures such as:

  • The adoption of a specific EU Action Plan on chronic diseases including respiratory diseases;
  • A significant increased investment in biomedical research and innovation;
  • Accelerated implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control;
  • Strong actions on indoor and outdoor air pollution and climate change;
  • Improving the accessibility to care for those with chronic respiratory diseases.

Professor Marc Decramer, President of the ERS said: "The current annual cost of €100 billion Euros caused by lung disease is not sustainable. We call on the Polish Presidency to ensure effective implementation of the Council conclusions on chronic disease. These actions together with the Roadmap have the potential to radically improve the health of future generations and save billions for Europe's economy."

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The European Respiratory Roadmap is available at www.ersnet.org/roadmap

ANNEX 1 - Key facts and figures

Communicable disease:

Infectious pneumonia is the world's biggest killer of babies and children under the age of five, accounting for more childhood deaths than malaria, AIDS and measles combined.1

In 2007, there was an estimated 9.27 million cases of tuberculosis worldwide.2 Non-communicable disease:

Non-communicable respiratory diseases, along with cancers, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, make the largest contribution to global mortality, accounting for 60% of global deaths.3

Prevention:

Tobacco, physical inactivity, poor diet and alcohol are the four major health determinants that account for most of the chronic disability and death in Europe, yet only 3% of health expenses are invested in prevention with 97% being invested in treatment.4 Clinical care:

It is estimated that by 2020 the shortage of healthcare workers in Europe, which includes physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and physiotherapists will amount to over 1,000,000.5

Research:

In the UK in 2002, respiratory research only claimed 2.8% of the Medical Research Council budget, whereas 13% of the mortality was due to respiratory diseases.6

The EU has earmarked a total of €6.1 billion for funding on the health theme of the FP7 Cooperation Programme. Out of this budget, 4.3% is devoted to respiratory disease, but only 0.5% of the budget is for research on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

References:

1. Murray JF. 2010: The Year of the Lung. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2010; 14: 1𔃂

2. World Health Organization. Millennium Development Goals in the WHO European Region: a Situational Analysis at the Eve of the Five-year Countdown. Copenhagen, WHO, Regional Office for Europe, 2010

3. Sixty-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly. Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit. Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report by the 7 Director-General of the World Health Organization on the global status of non-communicable diseases, with a particular focus on the development challenges faced by developing countries (September 2010) http://daccess ddsny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N10/531/44/PDF/N1053144.pdf?OpenElemnt ) Date last accessed: January 5, 2011.

4. Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013, White paper, European Commission, COM(2007) 630 final

5. Neubauer K, Kidd E. Investing in Europe's Health Workforce of Tomorrow: Scope for Innovation and Collaboration. Summary Report of the Three Policy Dialogues. Leuven, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, 2010. www.healthworkforce4europe.eu / Date accessed: March 14, 2011

6. Laurent G. 'Getting grant applications funded: lessons from the past and advice for the future'. Thorax 2004; 59: 1010�

ANNEX 2 - The roadmap urges policymakers to take the following steps:

Prevention:

Full implementation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Europe.

Act upon the Parma Declaration on indoor and outdoor air pollution and climate change.

Implement the UN outcomes document on NCDs in the European Region.

Prepare for the challenge of increased occupational and work related diseases.

Promote physical activity and healthy diets.

Tackle health inequalities within countries and between countries in Europe.

Develop and incentivise cost effective early diagnosis and detection of respiratory diseases in the Member States.

Raise awareness of pre-natal and early-life events for lung health in adulthood.

Clinical care:

EU action on rare diseases is to be commended. A similar strategy for chronic diseases including respiratory should be introduced by the European Commission as part of the reflection process called for in the Council conclusions.

There is a need to improve the accessibility and application of existing tools to care for those with chronic respiratory diseases.

There is a need to promote and better co-ordinate lung transplantation in Europe.

Common chronic diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will need clear guidelines and patient registries set up at the EU level.

Research:

The EU and Member States need to build on the progress in FP7 for the next framework programme and significantly increase investments for biomedical research and innovation to meet the grand societal challenges such as the ageing population.

There is a need to set up a dedicated infrastructure for health research that spans the full biomedical innovation cycle.

Europe needs a strong new generation of medical researchers trained to tackle aspects from basic to translational and clinical research, capable of supporting the chain of innovation. Education:

Member States and the Commission must prepare for continued patient and doctor mobility in future and take account of the training and skills that will be needed.

Member States national authorities should recognise provider led "European Accreditation" which aims to harmonise the training of doctors in Europe


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