Over the past year, SIP Portugal has significantly strengthened its role as a national advocacy platform, elevating chronic pain to a higher level of public visibility and political priority. The 2025 SIP Portugal Newsletter provides an overview of the key advocacy, policy, scientific, and communication activities carried out throughout the year:
Political Engagement with Parliamentary Groups and Decision-Makers
As part of a coordinated effort, SIP Portugal met with several parliamentary political forces and decision-makers, underscoring the importance of recognising chronic pain as a disease, stressing the need for the full implementation of ICD11, and presenting relevant data on the social and employment-related impact of pain. Consequently, for the first time, chronic pain received greater visibility across various political platforms during the pre-election period, which represented a major step forward in the institutional recognition of this disease as a major public health issue.
National Awareness Campaign on Chronic Pain
Throughout the month of October, SIP Portugal led a broad National Awareness Campaign focused on pain literacy, equitable access to care, and the socioeconomic impact of chronic pain, with exceptionally wide reach and significant community engagement.
Media and Scientific Activities
In 2025, SIP Portugal featured across several media outlets, drawing public attention to the inequalities in access to pain care, the substantial economic and social burden associated with chronic pain, and the importance of fully adopting ICD-11. On the scientific front, the national platform took part in several national events, reinforcing dialogue between evidence, clinical practice, and public policy.
National Chronic Pain & Employment Survey
One of the most significant milestones of the year was the launch of the National Chronic Pain & Employment Survey, which gathered 662 responses and revealed unprecedented information on the employment challenges faced by people living with pain.