By Martin Banks - 9th December 2008
I do not know why more deputies have not signed. It may a result of the continued stigmatisation of such diseases, something I thought had become a thing of the past
Jean Georges, director of the Luxembourg-based group Alzheimer Europe
MEPs have been lambasted for their “very, very disappointing” response to fresh efforts to combat Alzheimer’s disease.
The criticism comes after it was revealed that only 192 deputies have so far signed a parliamentary written declaration calling for a pan-European action plan to tackle the problem.
The number is well short of the minimum 50 per cent of MEPs’ signatures that are needed before such a move can become formal EU policy.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Jean Georges, director of the Luxembourg-based group Alzheimer Europe, said, “To be honest, we expected far more MEPs would have signed the declaration by now. It is not asking so much, merely for better and more research into the issue of Alzheimer’s disease.
“I do not know why more deputies have not signed. It may a result of the continued stigmatisation of such diseases, something I thought had become a thing of the past.”
The declaration, put forward by five MEPs, including UK Tory John Bowis and French EPP-ED member Françoise Grossetête, was introduced back in October and runs until 22 January.
It points to the fact that, currently, 6.1 million people in Europe have Alzheimer’s disease, and that figure is expected to double or triple between now and 2050 as the population ages.
It also highlights the fact that the annual cost of the disease is around €130m and that this is expected to rise substantially over the next few years.
Presenting the findings of a new survey on the subject, Prof Anders Wimo of the Alzheimer Disease Research Centre in Stockholm, and a renowned expect on the issue, said, “The fact that relatively few MEPs have put their names to the declaration is very, very disappointing.
“The costs to society of this disease are enormous - particularly on unpaid, informal care - and we need more and better data to understand the full prevalence of it. If urgent action is not taken then the number of sufferers, currently just over six million, will rise to 12 million by 2030.
“One of the things I would like to is action plans in each member state, enforced not just at state level but in each municipality.”
The declaration is also supported by Luxembourg member Astrid Lulling, the oldest MEP in parliament, who said, “We urgently need to raise awareness of the written declaration and I just hope more MEPs will sign it before it lapses. It will be a tragedy if that does not happen.”
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