Alzheimer Europe Gives Full Backing To EU Health Ministers' Call For European Initiative On Alzheimer's Disease

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 22 Dec 2008 - 2:00 PST

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The Council of European Health Ministers adopted far-reaching conclusions on public health strategies to combat neurodegenerative diseases associated with ageing and in particular Alzheimer's disease on 16 December 2008. Coming at the end of the French Presidency, the conclusions clearly recognise Alzheimer's disease as a priority for European action and call on Member States to develop national strategies or action plans in this field aimed at improving the quality of life of patients and their carers.

The Council of Ministers also called upon the European Commission to adopt an initiative in 2009 which would strengthen European collaboration in the field of research, exchange best practices on prevention, early diagnosis, health and social care treatments and rehabilitation, as well as on the ethical dimension of Alzheimer's disease and the protection of patients' rights. The conclusions also make a clear reference to the campaign of Alzheimer Europe and its member organisations to make Alzheimer's disease a public health priority and welcome the work carried out by these associations in defending and supporting patients and their carers.

Jean Georges, Executive Director of Alzheimer Europe welcomed the EU initiative: "Alzheimer Europe would like to congratulate the French Presidency on the significant achievement of reaching a consensus amongst all Member States and the European Commission to make Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia a European priority. Together with our member organisations, we have actively campaigned for the development of national action plans and improved European collaboration and we are truly delighted that the Council of Ministers has given such a resounding backing to our call. We hope that the initiative will lead to improvements for the lives of the 6.1 million Europeans currently living with a form of dementia in the European Union, as well as those of their carers and families and promise our full support to the European Commission for the development of a comprehensive strategy addressing the medical, care-related, social and ethical issues faced by people with dementia and their carers."

The full text of the Council conclusions is available here.

Alzheimer Europe