April 25th 2017, Brussels: Today, healthcare professionals, patients and policymakers joined forces to call for action at national and European levels on allergy and asthma.

The  political Call to Action  in Europe  ‘United action for allergy and asthma’  was launched today as a  multistakeholder partnership between the three co-initiators:  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).  It marks the start of a pan-European advocacy campaign to drive action on allergy and asthma – the most prevalent chronic diseases in Europe. 

Targeted at EU and national policymakers, the Call to Action presents policy recommendations to EU Member States,  the  European Commission,  the  European Parliament and patients/civil society stakeholders, with the overarching objective to unite all strategic parties  in Europe  to  help bring about effective  policy responses to allergy  and asthma  through  a collaborative and holistic approach, supporting patients’ rights.  In  particular, it calls for:

•  European strategies and programmes on allergy and asthma to be implemented in all Member States

•  greater funding for research to advance the understanding of allergy and asthma

•  better prevention and diagnosis to achieve early detection and allow timely and effective treatment

•  actions to address underlying triggers, such as air quality, food allergens and chemicals, and to improve the 

analysis of the root causes of allergic diseases

•  strengthened work to pioneer individualised treatment and progress personalised medicine.

Among other measures, the Call to Action invites the European Commission to encourage greater cooperation and coordination between Member States  in the  promotion of allergy and asthma programmes  and  to lend coordination support to collect public health indicators and better monitor trends on allergy and asthma.  It also urges  Member  States  to  invest  in  allergy  and  asthma  prevention  and  early  detection,  including  awareness campaigns and training programmes for healthcare professionals

The  ‘United action for allergy and asthma’  campaign was launched at a  dedicated policy event of the European Parliament Interest Group, which took place from 6pm to 8pm in the European Parliament. Co-hosted by the Co-chair of the Interest Group, Sirpa Pietikäinen (Finland, EPP group),  and group members Nathalie Griesbeck (France,  ALDE  group)  and  Karin  Kadenbach  (Austria,  S&D  group),  the  event  was  opportunity  to  discuss  the 

benefits  of  prevention,  good  practice  examples  in  addressing  allergy  and  asthma,  and  measures  to  drive improvements in care.

The Call to Action is open until the end of September for endorsement by all interested parties wishing to join this move to support stronger and improved allergy and asthma policies. An online platform for endorsement is  available  at  http://www.callallergyasthma.eu/  and  the  Coalition  encourages  you  to  take  part  in  this initiative. 

Together, co-initiators and supporters stand united to create a healthier and happier future for the 220 million or more patients with allergy and asthma in Europe.