Brussels Declaration Calls on Policymakers to Make Asthma a Priority for the EU

Brussels (ots/PRNewswire) - Led by British MEP Liz Lynne, medical
experts and representatives of relevant patient and professional
associations today called on the European Commission and the Council
to recognise asthma as a serious public health issue. The statement
is part of the Brussels Declaration, a 10-point action plan for
improving asthma management across Europe. The Declaration says that
better management of asthma could free up more than eight million
hospital days each year.(1) It also calls for EU guidelines to be
brought up-to-date in order to reduce the annual EUR17.7 billion cost
of asthma treatment in Europe.

The Brussels Declaration captures the key conclusions of the
'Summit for Change in Asthma Management', a pivotal meeting held in
the European Parliament in October 2006 which for the first time
brought together high-ranking politicians, clinicians, regulatory
experts and patient representatives to discuss current concerns
related to asthma.

Asthma is a respiratory manifestation of systemic inflammatory
processes, which is increasing throughout the world in all age
groups, particularly in children. Whilst 95 percent of asthma should
be controllable given access to appropriate medical care, its
prevalence in Europe is thought to have doubled in the last ten
years. (2)

"With one person estimated to die of asthma every hour in Western
Europe, we can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to this urgent
public health issue," said Liz Lynne MEP (UK, ALDE) at the launch of
the Brussels Declaration.

The Brussels Declaration calls on the Commission and the Council
to set annual targets for improvement in asthma control across the EU
and encourage Member States to adapt best practice solutions in
asthma in their own healthcare systems. Liz Lynne MEP said: "Asthma
is a great case example for the European Commission to profile itself
as broker of best practice. The EU can make a real difference that
way."

Presenting preliminary findings of the report by the Centre for
European Policy Studies (CEPS) on Asthma in the EU, Senior Research
Fellow Jorgen Mortensen added: "In order to increase the impact of EU
public health policy on major diseases such as asthma it appears
appropriate to reconsider the current approach and return to more
disease-specific initiatives."

The Brussels Declaration also calls upon the European Commission
to update the European Medicines Agency's (EMEA) regulatory guidance
note on asthma to take account of the latest clinical evidence. CEPS
Senior Research Fellow Andrea Renda said: "Greater transparency of
EMEA procedures can help to deepen stakeholder involvement and
further improve the EU's regulatory activities in this field."

Prof. Tari Haahtela from the University of Helsinki and
coordinator of the innovative Finnish Asthma Programme which is
widely regarded as a best practice example, stated: "Putting the
individual patient at the centre of all considerations is the key to
success; introducing guided self-management of the disease its
driver."

Svein-Erik Myrseth, President of the European Federation of the
Allergy and Airway Diseases Patients Association (EFA) added:
"Patients should not only be seen as recipient of care, but also as a
unique source of information, which is vital for successful disease
management."

Siân Williams from the International Primary Care Respiratory
Group (IPCRG) pointed out: "Education of healthcare professionals in
primary care will be essential when improving diagnosis and control
of asthma in Europe as they are commonly the first contact for
patients."

To see the full declaration, please visit: www.summitforchange.eu

Notes to Editors:

The Summit for Change in Asthma Management and Brussels
Declaration Steering group comprises:

Liz Lynne                   MEP, West Midlands, UK
    Professor Stephen Holgate   MRC Clinical Professor of
                                Immunopharmacology, University of
                                Southampton, UK
    Professor Hans Bisgaard     University of Copenhagen, Denmark
    Professor Leif Bjermer      University of Lund, Sweden
    Professor Tari Haahtela     University of Helsinki, Finland
    Professor Rob Horne         Professor of Behavioural Medicine, Department
                                of Policy and Practice, The School of
                                Pharmacy, University of London
    Professor Andrew McIvor     McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
                                Chairman of Canadian Thoracic Society Asthma
                                Committee
    Svein-Erik Myrseth          President of the European Federation of the
                                Allergy and Airway Diseases Patients
                                Association (EFA), Norway
    Susanna Palkonen            Executive Officer of the European Federation
                                of the Allergy and Airway Diseases Patients
                                Association (EFA), Belgium
    Professor David Price       Professor of Primary Care Respiratory
                                Medicine, University of Aberdeen,
                                International Primary Care Respiratory Group
                               (IPCRG), UK
    Dr. Mike Thomas             Asthma UK Research Fellow Department General
                                Practice and Primary Care, University of
                                Aberdeen, UK
    Dr. Erkka Valovirta         Chairman of the Allergy Section of the
                                Finnish Society of Paediatrics, Finland
    Professor Ulrich Wahn       Charité Berlin, Germany
    Siân Williams               Executive Officer of the International
                                Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG)

(1) European Federation of the Allergy and Airway Diseases
Patients Association (EFA). Available at: www.efanet.org

(2) Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2006. Global Strategy for
Asthma Management and Prevention. Available from:
http://www.ginasthma.org. World Health Organisation. Let Everybody
Breathe: World Asthma Day. Available from:
http://www.who.int/inf-pr-2000/en/pr2000-29.html

Rückfragehinweis:
For further information please contact: Pia Holmen, Tel:
+32-477-281-535, Email: pholmen@hillandknowlton.com

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