Code Of A Good Practice On The Rights And Quality Of Life Of People Affected By Multiple Sclerosis - EMSP

Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis
Article Date: 02 Jan 2007 - 0:00 PDT


In December 2003 the European Parliament approved a report based upon a petition submitted by a British person with Multiple Sclerosis, Louise McVay. This report was actively supported by the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform and all EU Multiple Sclerosis Societies. Health Departments in most member states of the Union provided information which was used to assist with the preparation of the report.

The contents of the report, presented by Parliament's Rapporteur Uma Aaltonen from Finland, and herself a person with MS, analysed the experiences of people with MS in Europe. It did so with regard to the type of medical support they were able to obtain from their respective health services, as well as in relation to their social and family environment, and in particular their employment prospects.

The report also emphasised the most significant characteristic of MS is that it affects people who are at the prime of their life (contrary to almost all other incapacitating diseases affecting people in similar numbers) at a time when most will have young families and considerable career prospects.

The report makes clear that according to Article 152 of the EU Treaty "Community action which shall complement national policies shall be directed towards improving public health......" It also makes reference to provisions now contained in the Draft Constitutional Treaty (in the Charter of Fundamental Rights) on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Paragraph 1 of the substantive resolution adopted by Parliament urges the Ministers of Health of the European Union to develop a "Code of Best Practice" concerning MS patients.

This Draft "Code of Good Practice" has been prepared by the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform, with an input from key experts and all MS societies in Europe, and is ready to be submitted for consideration by the Council of Health Ministers. Our aim is the acknowledgement and implementation of the code and its reference documents by all national health ministers. Full document is available here (pdf).

European MS Platform (emsp)
Rue Auguste Lambiotte 144/8
1030 Brussels
Belgium
http://www.ms-in-europe.org

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