The co-chairs of the four MEP Groups strongly supports the initiative taken by the trio of the European Union presidencies to give priority to the prevention of chronic diseases and support the initiative of the Belgian Council presidency to raise awareness on the burden of chronic diseases at its upcoming conference of 19 - 20 October.

The discussions on primary prevention on non-communicable chronic diseases in Europe were inspired by the recommendations contained in a policy paper recently published by the Chronic Disease Alliance , a coalition of 10 non-for-profit European organisations representing over 100.000 health professionals, who have joined forces to put the case for immediate action to reverse the alarming rise in chronic diseases.

The organisers of this MEP meeting call upon the competent authorities in all Member States to commit to reducing the burden of chronic disease. "Investment in interventions to control the burden of chronic diseases will bring appreciable economic and social benefits to society", concludes Dirk Sterckx, MEP and co-chair of the MEP Heart Group.

They also called all EU head of states to contribute to and to attend the United Nations high-level meeting of the General Assembly in September 2011 on the prevention and control of Non-Communicable Diseases.

Source: European Society of Cardiology