You are on page 1of 2

Mrs Laurette Onkelinx

Belgian Minister of Health and Social Affairs


Rue du Commerce, 78-80,
1040 Bruxelles

Dear Minister Onkelinx,

As Presidents of the Fit for Work Europe Coalition, we would like to bring your attention to the burden
of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)—one of the most significant categories of chronic disease—to
Europe’s economy and society and call upon your support and action under the Belgian Presidency to
help make Europe Fit for Work.

MSDs are a leading cause of disability and inactivity among Europe’s working age population, and
thus have a significant effect not only on the quality of life of patients and their families but also on
Governments and society through increased spending on public health and social security.

MSDs account for a higher proportion of sickness absence from work than any other health condition.
1
This puts a significant burden on European society estimated at up to 2% of gross domestic product.
The European Commission estimates that MSDs account for half of all absences from work and for
60% of permanent work incapacity. They result in more sickness absence than stress and cost
2
European countries around 240 billion euros annually.

The vision of Fit for Work Europe Coalition is to shift MSDs from disabling conditions to manageable
conditions—and importantly to keep more of our citizens in work and improve sustainability of
Europe’s health and social systems.

Research conducted by The Work Foundation in the UK demonstrates that Member States can best
address MSDs through prevention, early detection, appropriate intervention and better management of
the varied conditions, but MSDs must be prioritized in Brussels and in Member State capitals. (Please
visit www.fitforworkeurope.eu for more information and research prepared by Fit for Work). The Fit for
Work Europe Coalition therefore asks you, European and national policymakers to recognize
MSDs as a health priority at all levels, and to recommend that Member States develop national
action plans to improve prevention and management of MSDs.

The Fit for Work Coalition’s core principles for people living with MSDs are based on the belief that
staying in work is good:

- Work is healthy for patients and society


- Work makes economic sense
- Work is an achievable outcome for clinicians

We, as Presidents of the Coalition and on behalf of our members and supporters, urgently call upon
you to include MSDs as a priority in view of the upcoming Council Conclusions on Chronic
Conditions, and to invite the European Commission to give priority to this issue. If this health and
economic issue is not addressed, the socio-economic burden of MSDs will only increase as the
population ages and as obesity increases.

1
Cammarota, A (2005). The Commission’s initiative on MSDs: Recent developments in social partner
consultation at the European level.
2
European Commission (2007).

The Fit for Work Europe Coalition works to promote a multi-stakeholder dialogue on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) to drive
clinical practice and health and work policy that will improve the quality of working life for people with MSDs. Fit for Work is a
partnership of organizations and individuals, and enjoys the patronage of The Work Foundation, the Bone and Joint Decade,
EULAR and RAND Europe, and a broad range of stakeholders. The Fit for Work Europe Coalition is supported by an ongoing
grant from Abbott--a founding partner--and a supporting grant from GE Healthcare.
Addressing the problem of MSDs would not only help to significantly improve the quality of life of
patients and their families but will also boost work productivity. This is an important cost benefit value,
especially in light of the economic crisis and in helping to improve the sustainability of Member States’
healthcare systems.

We thank you kindly for your consideration and attention in helping us make Europe Fit for Work.
Should you need additional information and data, we remain ready to discuss at your disposal. Thank
you.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Antonyia Parvanova, Member of the European Parliament


Co-President, Fit for Work Europe Coalition

Mr Stephen Bevan, Managing Director, The Work Foundation


Founding President, Fit for Work Europe Coalition

Dame Professor Carol Black, National Director for Health & Work, Chairman of the Academy of
Medical Royal Colleges & Chairman of the Nuffield Trust
Co-President, Fit for Work Europe Coalition

Professor Paul Emery, Professor of Rheumatology of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds,


President of EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism)
Co-President, Fit for Work Europe Coalition

www.fitforworkeurope.eu

You might also like