The Call to Action urges all healthcare professionals, policy makers, patient groups, industry, employers, schools, media, and the general public to ensure that migraine sufferers are listened to, understood, and provided with the necessary tolls and support to live a normal life. The Call to Action is supported by the Swiss Migraine Trust Foundation/Migraine Action, Club Migraine et Céphalées, City of London Migraine Clinic, Svenska Migränförbundet, Migraine Action Association, Alleanza Cefalagici-Cirna Foundation, Migraine Association of Ireland, Asociación Española de Pacientes con Cefalea (AEPAC), Nederlandse Vereniging van Hoofdpijnpatiënten. This collection of European migraine groups say their aim is to “build on the good work that has already been done and address areas that need further attention. Therefore our goals for action are: patients’ rights and responsibilities, education and awareness raising, dialogue between patient and healthcare professional, and finally migraine control and prevention.”

The Call to Action comes in light of a recent pan-European survey entitled Migraine Experience. Over 2,000 migraineurs from 10 different countries were polled, with findings illustrating the burden and impact migraine has on the life of the patient. Issues included in the study addressed interference with a patient’s family, career, general health, and sexual life. Results from this online survey reveal that migraine seriously affects a sufferer’s ability to perform general everyday activities. One-third of patients experience attacks more than 30 days per year lasting more than 12 hours per week.

The Call to Action will be used by local patient groups and at the European level to further raise awareness of migraine issues among professionals, policy makers, employers, and the public.

This article is based on information published in the European Headache Federation January 2006 newsletter “European Migraine Patients Call to Action”

For more information about the Call to Action, please visit the European Headache Federation January 2006 newsletter, and/or get a copy of the full document (in pdf format) by clicking HERE.

To download a free copy of Adobe Reader, please visit the Adobe Reader website by clicking HERE.