Thalassaemia, a previously fatal childhood genetic disease, can today be effectively prevented and appropriately treated, as a result of medical and scientific advances in the last three decades. However, thalassaemia’s prioritisation on national health agendas and the development of national plans for its effective control in the EU has been hampered by the many challenges involved, mainly related to its rarity and migration.

THALassaemia In Action 2018 (THALIA2018) focuses on Europe, targeting patients with thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies, healthcare professionals and policymakers and aims to attain four general objectives, based on TIF’s main pillars of activities:

1. Continue and strengthen the education of patients/parents and healthcare professionals, as well as the patients’ capacity, competency and networking within and across countries and regions of Europe. This is to be achieved via the development of e-learning tools and the launching of capacity building courses and training seminars.

2. Raise awareness on thalassaemia and the importance of optimal care amongst the public at large, as well as among THALIA target groups at national and European level. This will be attained using an array of online tools, activities and publications.

3. Prioritise haemoglobin disorders and their control (prevention and management) at European level. This will be accomplished by establishing and training national patients’ associations in EU priority countries, creating an EU Electronic Health Record and entering into policy dialogue with policymakers at national and European level.

4. Support research programmes and studies focused on the clinical management of Thalassaemia. This is to be achieved via the publication of guidelines on the clinical management of Thalassaemia, participating in scientific conferences and providing medical specialists in priority countries with fellowships.

Knowledge is our power.
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EPHA is Europe's leading civil society alliance working to protect and improve public health for all and reduce health inequalities. Together with our 88 member groups, we toward policy change to tackle the root causes of health problems and barriers to achieving the best possible state of health, wellbeing and equity. This encompasses social, economic, environmental and especially commercial and political determinants of health.

EPHA’s main activities fall into the following categories: Intelligence gathering, analysis and dissemination; Consensus development; Advocacy and representation; Raising the profile of public health via events, communications and media; Capacity building.

EPHA's annual workplan for 2018 is drawn from the multi-annual workplan (FPA) 2018-2021 and builds on EPHA’s successes to date. EPHA’s activities in 2018 will contribute to all 4 objectives of the 3rd HP, as illustrated in the FPA.

We have selected annual operational objectives, supported by actions, deliverables, milestones and indicators in the following priority areas:
- Prevention of chronic, non-communicable diseases (including food an agriculture, alcohol, tobacco and air quality policies)
- Universal access to affordable medicines
- Action on antimicrobial resistance
- Inclusive digital health
- Healthy trade policy
- Financing for public health
- Capacity-building and organisational development

EPHA’s 2018 workplan reflects a clearer selection of priorities, in line with EPHA’s mission and vision. The plan includes an overview table which illustrates how long-term strategic objectives are supported by operational objectives, milestones, deliverables and measurable impact indicators. We include a dissemination plan and evaluation framework.
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The proposal continues the programme of work to reduce the burden of obesity in society, through improved medical services, better information on trends and causes, and strengthened policies for obesity prevention. To achieve this we will promote high standards of training for European health professionals treating people with obesity, using online courses and face-to-face training schools. We will strengthen the provision of information on the trends in obesity prevalence and the causes and impacts of obesity, including disparities in health and health determinants, by providing country reports, interactive maps and down-loadable graphics. Lastly, we will develop a European Obesity Observatory to include a pan-European data-base on prevention activities, a series of Policy Briefing papers, and a Policy Repository providing tools and services for policy makers.
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