IDF Europe - EU Affairs Report

Dr. Michael Hall, IDF-E Board Member14th October, 2005 Munich, Germany

Towards an EU Framework for Diabetes

From St Vincent to Munich1989 - 2005

• Since the signing of the St Vincent Declaration in 1989, by all the current EU Member States (except Cyprus), improvements in the care for people with diabetes have been difficult to detect.

• Although some governments have worked at producing National Diabetes Plans or Programmes, others have shown little attempt to make diabetes a priority on their national healthcare agenda.

• IDF Europe was notable for keeping the St Vincent flag flying

• Now, our efforts are geared towards achieving an:

EU Council Recommendation for Diabetes Prevention, Diagnosis and Control.

Slow Progress?Progress towards this objective has seemed tantalisingly slow, however, a number of key milestones have been achieved over the last two years:

• Irish Presidency & EU Health Council Conclusions- In Dublin in 2004, there was an important step forwards when the Irish

Presidency was persuaded to initiate a move towards placing diabetes on the EU agenda.

- This resulted in the EU Health Council of Ministers calling for the EU to develop a European Strategy on Diabetes in June 2004

• Otocec Declaration- In November 2004, the launch of the Otočec Declaration, calling on

EU’s leaders to act- EU Diabetes Week 2004 - EU Health Commissioners, David Byrne and

Markos Kyprianou, received and supported the Otočec Declaration.

• Austrian Presidency of the EU- Decision by the Austrian Presidency of the EU (Jan-July 2006) to

prioritise diabetes on its Presidency agenda - Conference - February 2006 (IDF E/FEND as partners), Health Council

conclusions expected - June 2006.

Pictures of Success

From: Presidency

To: Council

Date: 2 June 2004

Subject: Diabetes - In

formation by the Presidency

Diabetes requires the development of a comprehensive, integrated

programme of prevention, care and rehabilitation. It constitutes a

significant public health problem with high mortality and serious levels

of illness and disability. There exist identifiable interventions and

sound evidence based strategies which could have a potential to

significantly improve the health of individuals and populations health

across Europe.

Progress made in cardiovascular and cancer strategies demonstrate

the merit of addressing conditions like diabetes in a co-ordinated,

strategic and comprehensive way across Europe, given that it can

have wide-ranging complications. Indeed, a European strategy for

diabetes, a major risk factor of other related diseases such as

cardiovascular disease, could make an important contribution to

the reduction of public health expenditures in all 25 EU member

states.

Current ActivitiesTwo key projects currently underway include:

• European Diabetes Audit- Joint project with FEND on Diabetes Policies within the EU (full

presentation tomorrow) providing data to support our case for urgent action, getting policies into practice.

- Audit to be officially launched and presented to politicians and EU policy makers over the coming months.

Supported by Novartis

• EU Policy Recommendations – New Project Starting Now- Aimed at developing a set of recommendations on Diabetes Prevention,

Diagnosis and Control – a foundation on which the Commission can draft its proposal for an EU Council Recommendation.

- Member Associations will be invited to contribute- Policy Paper to be made available ahead of Austrian Health Conference in

February and widely disseminated to policy makers in the EU. Supported by FEND, PCDE, GSK

• Glucoforum- IDF E has been able to raise awareness on pre-diabetes and diabetes. - We have been invited to join the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity

and Lifestyle, offering yet another opportunity to work within the EU.Supported by Merck Sante

Step-by-Step Progress

St Vincents Declaration & National Diabetes Plans

EU Health Council Information Note

Otočec Declaration

EU Council Recommendation

on Diabetes

Diabetes Policy Audit

Glucoforum EU Obesity Platform

Dublin EU DiabetesWorkshop

EU Policy Paper

(Ongoing)

(Ongoing)

Austrian Presidency PriorityCouncil of

Europe

Upcoming IDF Europe Activity

• The UK Presidency and Diabetes (July-Dec 2005)EU Health Summit “Tackling inequalities in health” - 17/18th October

• The Austrian Presidency and Diabetes (Jan-Jun 2006)Next planning meeting for the February Conference is now fixed for 2nd November

• European Commission - Testing (Week of 28th November)Discussions with the Cabinet of Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou’s underway to convince him to hold a testing event in the Commission building.

• EU Diabetes Parliamentary Working Group (Wed 30th November)Consideration of a Written Declaration to put pressure on the Commission and Member States to support an EU Council Recommendation on Diabetes. 

• EU Diabetes Week (March 2006)Planning for this event at the European Parliament is underway.

Upcoming IDF Europe Activity

• EU Bulletin

Published in September. Copies will be made available during the General Assembly meeting.Supported by Novo Nordisk

• GlucoforumWork continues; web-site for health care professionals launched in Athens. Consensus article “Pre-diabetes Essential Action: A European Perspective”, to be published in December. Supported by Merck Sante

• Corporate Partners Next meeting on 1st December 2005.

National Member AssociationsYour Support

Action to raise political support at national level is now vital

Increase advocacy with key officials within National Health Ministries and politicians (MPs & MEPs)

Send letters to and request meetings with these key official and politicians

During meetings, refer to recent audit report on national diabetes policies and highlight key differences between countries

Call for benchmarking and minimum standards for the prevention, diagnosis and control of diabetes across EU member states.