The Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) Platform is pleased to announce the release of our Position Paper on Employment and the Economic Considerations of Pain.
Chronic pain can take hold of a person’s life, interfering with patients’ ability to work, walk, sleep, or concentrate. This means struggling with basic daily activities, maintaining relationships, and participating fully in society.
Current estimates indicate that the direct and indirect costs of chronic pain account for 3–10% of GDP annually across EU countries. At a time when EU public health is increasingly framed within a competitiveness-driven agenda, addressing the economic burden of chronic pain should be recognised as a public health priority and a strategic investment in social wellbeing, productivity, and economic resilience.
This position paper highlights the employment and economic burden of chronic pain and sets out key policy recommendations for EU and national policymakers.
You can read the full position paper here.