First EFIC® Symposium Societal Impact of Pain - SIP

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ABOUT EFIC ®
The European Federation of IASP chapters
(EFIC ® ) is a multidisciplinary professional
organization in the field of pain science
and medicine, made up of the 34 European
Chapters of IASP (International Association
for the Study of Pain).
Established in 1993, by Prof. Ulf Lindblom,
the EFIC ® represents 34 countries and
close to 20,000 scientists, physicians,
nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists
and other healthcare professionals across
Europe, who study pain and treat patients
in pain.
Mission Statement
The European Federation of IASP Chapters
(EFIC ® ) was formed by the presidents of
the European Chapters at a joint meeting
held at the time of the World Congress
on Pain, in Paris in August, 1993.
Aims
The objectives of the EFIC ® are in general
those of IASP, i.e. to promote research,
education, and the clinical management
of pain.
The specific aim is to create a forum for
European collaboration on pain issues and
to encourage communication at a European
level between IASP Chapters, and
also with other bodies interested or
involved in the fields of pain research and
therapy such as the European societies
or federations of medical specialities (anaesthesiology,
neurology, headache, palliative
care etc.), institutions of the European
Community, European and national educators
and legislators.
Examples of pain issues that may be
dealt with by EFIC ® :
• The epidemiology of acute and chronic
pain in Europe.
• The availability of pain treatment facilities.
• The interface between patient needs
and treatment facilities.
• The recognition of differences in therapeutic
strategies and pain education
within Europe.
• The harmonisation of such differences.
• Review of existing curricula and plans
for training of pain specialists (it might
be desirable to develop a European academy
to accredit pain specialists, possibly
by examination).
• Setting standards for diagnosis and
treatment of chronic pains of different
types and mechanisms.
Constitution
The affairs of EFIC ® are conducted by its
Council, which consists of the Presidents
of the European IASP Chapters, and five
elected officers who form the Executive
Board.
The Council meets once a year while the
Board manages affairs between meetings.
EFIC ® is established as a charitable foundation
in Belgium.
EFIC's position in relation to IASP
The bylaws of the IASP (section V) provide
that national Pain Societies and Associations
may constitute Chapters of the IASP
in their country.
The EFIC ® acts as a European grouping of
these Chapters of the IASP, so that they
may work together while allowing for the
socio-cultural diversity of Europe. Many of