LUXEMBOURG, 16 FEBRUARY
2006: For the first time the EU Community Public Health
Programme will, in 2006, include a specific reference
to the need for "information and definition
of indicators to improve relevant information for
specific aspects of women's gynaecological and menopausal
health (eg. endometriosis)”.
Especially important is that the Programme specifically
mentions endometriosis. This could lead to improved
understanding of the impact of endometriosis and how
best to diagnose, treat, and care for the 14 million
women in Europe living with this chronic condition.
One major reason that this decision was taken is due
to results from a 2005 pain and quality of life survey
completed by 7,025 women with endometriosis worldwide,
which clearly demonstrated that much more is required
to deal with the effects of this illness [1].
There was also further endorsement from MEPs with
36% supporting a European Parliamentary Written Declaration
on Endometriosis. This was the highest number of signatures
ever achieved for a health issue [2].
Lone Hummelshoj, co-founder of Endometriose Foreningen
in Denmark, and Robert Music, chief executive of the
National Endometriosis Society in the UK, have been
working closely with representatives of the European
Commission and MEPs over the past two years to highlight
the unacceptable fact that, in 2006, funding for and
awareness of endometriosis is still worringly low.
Following this historic decision, Hummelshoj and
Music said: “We are delighted that the
European Commission have chosen to include support
for women with endometriosis. With an estimated 14
million women in the EU suffering from endometriosis,
it is a vitally important area in which to increase
focus and efforts.
So many women continue to struggle to obtain
a correct and prompt diagnosis, and to suffer hit
and miss treatments, which is simply unacceptable
in 2006, for a disease which has such a profound effect
on lives. We hope that the EU’s decision to
include women’s health, and endometriosis in
particular, in their 2006 Programme will help increase
funding for vital research and widespread awareness
efforts”.
It is estimated that endometriosis may cost the EU
€30 billion annually alone in lost days at work
due to the impact of the disease. Furthermore, endometriosis
can wreck relationships, destroy careers, contribute
to infertility, and have an untold impact on quality
of life.
The 2005 survey [1] showed an average diagnostic
delay of 8.3 years, with 65% of women originally being
misdiagnosed with another condition. In a recent press
release, Maria Rauch-Kallat,
Minister for Health and Women in Austria, said:
“More gender
sensitivity is required here in order to recognise
symptoms and to treat them in good time. Women are
not men, and this fact also has to be taken into consideration
in medical training and treatment”.
The Austrian Presidency aims
to initiate a women’s health report, which should
document the status of all 25 EU member states in
the field of women’s health. In addition, Rauch-Kallat
will ensure that women’s health is the central
theme of the April meeting in Vienna of European Health
Ministers [3].
