Rheumatism should be included in FP7, says European league

Brussels, 13 Jun 2005

The European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) has criticised the European Commission for failing to recognise rheumatic diseases as important major disease groups in its research and biomedical programmes.

Speaking at the conclusion of the EULAR conference in Vienna, Austria, on 11 June, Josef Smolen, a rheumatologist and President of EULAR, regretted that the Commission has not specified rheumatism as a major research topic and has had not included it in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) proposals.

'The EU is letting down more than 100 million European rheumatism patients,' stated Professor Smolen. 'This dismissal of the legitimate concerns of many of these citizens is irritating to say the least.'

According to EULAR, more than 100 million people throughout the EU are affected by diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Around one per cent of the EU population - about four million people - suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, while osteoporosis affects approximately ten per cent of the EU population. Furthermore, the number of deaths caused by fractures of the neck or the femur, commonly caused by osteoporosis, is higher than those caused by breast cancer.

'2.5 million full-time employees per year cannot hold their jobs due to rheumatism. According to the European Commission, this leads to a 0.2 to 2 per cent loss in gross national product,' said Professor Smolen.

Professor Smolen welcomed a draft declaration, backing EULAR concerns, which is currently being discussed in the European Parliament.

The Parliament's draft declaration requests the inclusion of rheumatism in the priorities of FP7 and the new EU Health Strategy; the strengthening of the anti-discrimination law for disability through a new, separate EU directive, and improved access for rheumatism patients to all therapeutic options throughout the entire EU.

The medical treatment of rheumatism has made enormous strides with innovative biologicals recently, said Professor Smolen. 'One can only hope that the industry does not lose its interest in further, very costly innovations due to a lack of research initiative from EU authorities,' he concluded.

CORDIS RTD-NEWS / © European Communities
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