7th European Union Osteoporosis Consultation Panel Meeting
Brussels, Belgium
October 13-14, 2008
The 7th European Union Osteoporosis Consultation Panel meeting was held in Brussels on October 13, 2008, followed by the World Osteoporosis Day European launch on October 14.
Participants were welcomed by moderator Donna Spafford, IOF Senior Policy Consultant.
In preparation of World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) global events, Dan Navid, IOF Senior Consultant, reviewed the many projects and activities supporting this year’s theme of “Stand Tall, Stand Out For Your Bones” which seeks to mobilize public opinion around the world in general, and in Europe specifically, to generate change on osteoporosis healthcare policies. See presentation (PDF, 2.27 MB)
Stefan Goemaere (photo on left) of the Belgian Bone Club, who were IOF partners for the next day’s WOD launch, described Bone Health Villages that were set up in downtown Brussels to invite citizens to obtain information on osteoporosis, identify risk factors for fracture, and receive information on prevention. A Health Village, set up just outside the meeting rooms at the Renaissance Hotel, received much attention. See presentation (PDF, 1.58 MB)
To set the stage for the next presentation, Dr Nansa Burlet (photo above), IOF Scientific Manager, reviewed several years of policy efforts by the IOF, EU Osteoporosis Consultation Panel and European Parliament Osteoporosis Interest Group, culminating in the EU Report that represents a year’s work and the beginning of a concerted effort towards policy change in the EU. See presentation (PDF, 691 KB)
After several months of preparation, members of the Consultation Panel saw the completed “Osteoporosis in the European Union in 2008: Ten years on progress and ongoing challenges”. This report provides a snapshot of the current status of osteoporosis, and summarizes information from each of the 27 EU member states. The last osteoporosis audit report took place in 2001 when the EU was composed of only 15 members. Comprehensive individual country reports are found on the IOF website, under EU Policy.
Prof Juliet Compston, Chair of the Consultation Panel, reviewed each section of the Report, beginning with a brief history of the Panel’s policy work over the past ten years, recognizing both the personal and economic burden of osteoporosis and acknowledging progress made as well as the need to address existing care gaps.
Download:
Overview of report in slide form (PPT, 4.84 MB) as presented by Prof. Compston
Presentation on UK National Osteoporosis Guidelines Group 2008 (PDF, 145.4 KB)
The Report responds to the Eight Recommendations established in 1998, and which continues to act as the foundation against which the IOF and EU policy work is determined.
Prof Compston applauded the progress that reflects the efforts of the Panel members, policymakers and the IOF over the years, including shorter waiting times for bone mineral density testing, the addition of osteoporosis as a healthcare priority in some European states, the development of school programs focusing on healthy bone diets and lifestyle, and the establishment of national osteoporosis societies in each member state.
However, care gaps continue in a number of areas: only 6 of 27 governments have declared osteoporosis a healthcare priority, hip fracture rates continue to climb, costs associated with those fractures have doubled or tripled in several countries, inequalities exist among member states especially around reimbursement for bone density testing and treatment, and the need for national fracture registries is badly needed to document healthcare burden as well as to assess prevention measures.
Recently launched as a new tool to assist in the identification of fracture risk, FRAX® is a web-based algorithm based on the WHO Scientific Group Technical Report: The Assessment of Osteoporosis at the Primary Health Care Level, knowledge of which could not only prevent the pain and suffering of fractures but ease healthcare budgets in the long run.
Prof Compston encouraged the use of this new Report by all stakeholders in the osteoporosis community: physicians, scientists, policymakers, advocates, patients and their families, as well as concerned EU citizens, in order to continue to improve the management of osteoporosis in the European Union.
Panel members concluded the meeting by brainstorming effective next steps in ensuring this Report is communicated and disseminated throughout their policy activities in the coming months.
