By Martin Banks - 19th October 2011
We must fight internationally to improve the lives of those living and working with pain
Lech Walesa
A conference in parliament was told that muscle and joint pain is costing member states economies up to €240bn a year.
But the event on Wednesday heard that "few countries" have plans or infrastructures to tackle the issue effectively.
The EU was urged to take "bold steps to reduce the staggering" economic burden of chronic musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) to European society.
Leading the call was Lech Walesa, former Polish president and Nobel peace prize winner 1983 who is now a global "Fit for Work" ambassador.
Speaking in parliament, Walesa said, "We must fight internationally to improve the lives of those living and working with pain.
"But only coordinated action at national level will keep workers well enough to participate fully in society, including being able to stay in jobs they have worked hard to get."
He told the conference, "One hundred million Europeans suffer with a chronic MSD, over 40 million of whom are workers, with up to 40 per cent having to give up work due to their condition.
"This is unacceptable in the 21st century, when simple things such as earlier intervention and coordinated care at national level can make such a difference to people living with MSDs."
His demand was endorsed by Antonia Parvanova, the MEP who hosted the debate.
Parvanova, co-president of the "fit for work coalition," said, "We know the EU acknowledges the impact of MSDs on our economies and the need for actions to be taken.
"Now, we must focus our efforts on supporting national governments, helping them to make the case for making MSDs and the health of the working population a priority in their health systems, to improve outcomes in health and work.
"Only then will we effectively support those citizens living with chronic pain."
Both Parvanova and Walesa, former leader of the Polish Solidarity trade union, were among politicians, patients and health and work experts taking part in the one-day meeting.
Participants heard of latest research showing the growing impact of MSDs in Europe's ageing population.
The data shows that nearly 49 per cent of all absences from work and 60 per cent of permanent work incapacity in the EU is caused by MSDs and that over a quarter of the working population report work-related back pain.
Parvanova called for "effective policy and practice change at national level", saying this "will only be the result of a unified evidence-based approach to the management of MSDs".
She said national MSD action plans must make MSDs a national public health priority, along with other serious chronic conditions and allocate adequate funding for early intervention and treatment of MSDs
