Belarus
- Rational pharmacotherapy: the role and place of opioid analgesics;
- Pain psychotherapy: a protocol for cognitive behavioral therapy of chronic pain;
- The Center for the Study of Pain as a new structure within the Institute of Physiology of the National Academy of Sciences
- Methods of physical rehabilitation;
- Issues of pain service organization in a multidisciplinary hospital;
- Methods of interventional treatment: ultrasound versus X-ray.
A practical master class on the basics of ultrasound navigation in the interventional treatment of chronic pain is scheduled for June 9.
Belgium
The Annual Scientific Congress of the Belgian Pain Society took place on Saturday 1 June 2024 at Bluepoint Conference Centre, Bd A. Reyers 80, 1030 Brussels, on the topic “Sex, Gender and Chronic Pain”.
More information here.
Finland
The year 2024 will be the 28th year of the association operating. The aim of the Finnish Association for the Study of Pain‘s activities is the multiprofessional and multidisciplinary development of pain research and treatment in Finland.
The Association aims to influence issues and opinions related to pain management in society (SIP Finland). The Association now has 13 committees. The board of the Association is responsible for planning the activities of the Association and coordinating the implementation of the activities for the period 2024. The following committees will continue to assist the board in the implementation of the Association’s activities: Acute Pain, Specialist, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Facial Pain, Pain Communication, Children and Adolescent Pain, Medical, Neuromodulation, Psychology, Cancer Pain, Art Therapy and Research Committees. The Committees plan and organize nationwide multi-professional pain management training for health professionals.
The Association aims to promote domestic pain research by providing networking and collaboration opportunities for researchers. The Association supports pain research activities by announcing fellowship opportunities to apply for.
In the period of 2024, the Association’s primary focus will be on spreading knowledge and awareness of quality pain care throughout Finland. A key objective is to increase the interest in pain management and research. The objectives for the 2024 period will focus on primary health care.
A membership survey was sent to all members of the Association in autumn 2023. The members’ questionnaire surveyed members’ thoughts on the current activities of the Association and their wishes for the future development of the Association’s activities. The main objectives and areas for development of the Association for this period have been defined on the basis of the survey.
- Improving the level of competence in pain management during the 2024 period, the Association will focus primarily on activities that could promote the implementation of high-quality, equal pain care throughout Finland. Activities will include both primary care and specialist care, as well as the private sector.
- Communication and visibility. Internal communication within the association will be further developed. During 2024, the aim is also to launch the renewed social media channels of the Association. In 2024, the focus will be on information, cooperation and communication within the Association. All important information about pain events will be regularly published on our renewed website. This also includes all EFIC activities and congress announcements.
- Training and networking activities. The trainings planned by the committees form the central focus of the Association’s activities A key objective for 2024 is to make training accessible to as many members as possible. In 2024, the organisation of hybrid training courses will continue. The Association’s main training event was held in Oulu. (14.-15.3.2024) The congress was very successful. In connection with the main training event, the statutory spring meeting of the Association was held. In 2024, information will be disseminated on specific competency and specialist training in pain management to all welfare areas.
- Research activities. In 2024, solutions will be sought for better networking of national pain researchers. Explore the possibility of creating a register of ongoing research projects in the field of pain. The aim is to increase the visibility of national research projects at the Association’s training and networking events. The aim is also to increase international research cooperation.
- Publication activities. Kipuviesti will again be published twice a year. Current articles are also published in Kipuviesti based on the recommendations of the committees.
- Member recruitment. The aim is to increase the visibility of the Association and to improve the image of pain management.
France
ToolBOX for intrathecal therapy
To enhance access to intrathecal therapy, the SFETD committee of Pain Evaluation and Management decided to create a “toolbox” on this procedure, to encourage physicians considering intrathecal therapy for cancer patients who could benefit from it. Despite being known for over 30 years, this technique is underused due to lack of awareness, fear of complications, absence of coordination with implantation specialists, or perceived invasiveness. It is our pleasure to let you know that an English version of the ‘toolbox’ is now accessible for download in:
https://sfetd-douleur.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/TOOBOX%20%20IT%20version%20défintive.pdf
Since 2023, French specialists have had access to the French-language version of the toolbox, which provides comprehensive information on various aspects of intrathecal drug delivery, including indications, chemistry relationships, surgical techniques, complications, end-of-life management, other medication management, programming, and pump refilling. The data are regularly updated.
Well-conducted intrathecal drug delivery not only reduces pain but also improves the quality of life, tolerance of cancer treatments, and survival. The broader dissemination of this technique is crucial for enhancing the care of cancer patients. Hence, the decision to translate the toolbox into English is in our view a useful step to enhance education of physicians working with patients experiencing cancer-related pain.
The next annual congress of the French Pain Society will take place in 27-29 November 2024 in the city of Lille. We expect a resounding success as was the case with the two last events, with over 1500 participants. Please visit the site at https://www.congres-sfetd.fr/
As in previous editions, we’ll have the “PAINtalks” – “Parlons Douleur,” event –an interactive conference for general public in a short, engaging format.
Contact: SFETD EFIC Councillor <valeria.martinez@aphp.fr>
Germany
The Deutsche Schmerzgesellschaft e. V. – German Pain Society released an institutional opinion on the European Medicines Agency (EMA)‘s recent initiative concerning metamizole-based medications.
EMA has launched a review of medications containing the painkiller metamizole due to concerns that the current measures to minimise the known risk of agranulocytosis may be insufficient.
In line with statements from the German Association for Palliative Medicine, the German Pain Society reinstates the importance of metamizole in palliative medicine, particularly tumour pain therapy, as an equivalent alternative to NSAIDs and paracetamol. This is further supported by a 2021 recommendation of the German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine emphasising the good analgesic quality of metamizole.
Read the complete statement here.
Hungary
2. May 23, 2024. Balatonalmádi, “Stay on your Feet!” Civil Forum organized by the Hungarian Osteoporosis Patient Association: Chronic pain in old age – lecture by Erika Budai, HPS president.
3. June 20, 2024. At the Congress of the Hungarian Neurological Society in Szeged, we will hold three hands-on workshops. Cervical and lumbar spine, SIJ demonstrators: Róbert Almási president elect, Pál Pottyondy, and Márton Trӓger.
4. June 23 2024, Szeged. “To Leave with Dignity – End of Life Care in Csongrád-Csanád County Conference”, organized by the University of Szeged. Pain Management, Palliative Care – round table. Moderator: Erika Budai, HPS president.
5. In the autumn, we plan a “Basics of Multidisciplinary Pain Therapy” course for medical students organized by the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embriology (Zita Puskár, Semmelweis University, Budapest).
6. November 8-9, 2024. Our 2024 Congress will be held in Siófok, its program has been accredited (code: 88476). Detailed program is on our website. Main topics: · New opportunities and challenges in pain therapy. · IASP Global Year about Sex and Gender Disparities in Pain I-II. · Peripheral and central sensitization. · Molecular scalpel: targeted (intrathecal, epidural and intraarticular) resiniferatoxin for permanent pain relief in osteoarthritis and cancer patients. · The role of online space in pain therapy. · Invasive pain therapy. · Lectures of your choice.
7. December 4, 2024. Cancer Pain Management (SE-SZTOK/2024. II/00332) accredited online course (16 credit points). The lectures mainly focus on practical issues (Andreea Dumele, Csaba Simkó, Erika Budai). We are constantly uploading current events to our Facebook page and website.
Republic of Ireland
IPS-NIPS Annual Scientific Meeting 2024: This year’s sees the 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Irish Pain Society, which for the first time in history will be co-hosted with the Northern Ireland Pain Society at University College Dublin on Saturday 19th October. The meeting will comprise of invited talks from international and national pain researchers, panel discussion, workshops, short orals and poster sessions. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Sex and Gender Disparities in Pain” to align with the IASP Global Theme for 2024. The meeting will be jointly opened by Prof Michelle Roche, President of the Irish Pain Society and Dr John O’Halloran, President of the Northern Ireland Pain Society. We are delighted to have a number of International speakers across the pain disciplines confirmed for the meeting including Dr Rianne van Boekal (Netherlands; Nursing), Prof Mark Tully, (Belfast, UK Public Health), Prof Cormac Ryan (Teeside University, UK; Physiotherapy) and Prof Ed Keogh (Bath, UK; Psychology). The meeting will also include two Pain Medicine talks and a panel discussion with Dr. Lori Lindsey (Belfast) and Dr David Moore (Dublin) who will present on pain management strategies and goals in Ireland. A series of multidisciplinary workshops including one on Pain Medicine Procedures, will expose interested participants to the current trends and new interventions for pain. Early career researchers will have the opportunity to present short orals and poster presentations at the meeting and will be eligible for a number of prizes.
IPS SAGE with IASP Nurse Education Award. The IPS is pleased to announce the winner of the IPS SAGE with IASP Nurse Education Award is Colleen Cunningham, Beaumont Hospital. The IPS SAGE with IASP Nurse Education Award is kindly supported by Dr. Shelagh Wright, former IPS council member and author of the SAGE with IASP book “Pain Management in Nursing Practice“. This award is judged on a submitted abstract outlining how attendance at the IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain would be relevant for their nursing research and practice, as well as personal professional development and how it may help advance the scope of pain- management in nursing practice within the healthcare setting. We congratulate Colleen on her award and hope she enjoyed the IASP2024 World Congress on Pain
IPS Bursaries to attend IASP2024. The IPS is delighted to announce that they will support 5 travel bursaries for IPS members to attend this year’s IASP2024. Applicants must have submitted an abstract for oral or poster presentation at the IASP2024 Congress and applications are judged on the relevance and quality of the application, potential impact of dissemination for the applicant. The deadline is now closed for applications and winners will be announced at the end of June.
The Irish Pain Society (IPS) released an institutional opinion on the European Medicines Agency (EMA)‘s recent initiative concerning metamizole-based medications.
EMA has launched a review of medications containing the painkiller metamizole due to concerns that the current measures to minimise the known risk of agranulocytosis may be insufficient.
The Irish Pain Society recommends caution in prescribing metamizole and urges healthcare professionals to be aware of the risks of agranulocytosis, which may be higher in certain populations. Ongoing epidemiological research is essential to better understand the risk factors for agranulocytosis, including genetic predispositions, dosage, duration, and route of administration, to optimise the safe use of metamizole in clinical practice.
Read the complete statement here.
Italy
A workshop on ultrasound and diagnosis in pain therapy was also planned. Prof. Andreas Goebel from Liverpool will talk about “The role of the immune system in the pathophysiology of CRPS and fibromyalgia“.
All information about the Congress is available here
Latvia
- Neuropathic Pain Session
- Headache Session
- Invasive Pain Management Session
- Neuromodulation Session
- Rehabilitation and Psychotherapy Session
- Diffuse Pain Session
- Oncological Pain / Palliative Care Session
In addition to these sessions, we have three practical workshops focusing on:
- Perioperative Management of Chronic Pain
- Joint Pain (Knee, Hip, Shoulder, SI, Facets)
- Mononeuropathies
In addition to the academic sessions, we have arranged a variety of social events, including a welcome reception and a cultural evening. These events provide valuable opportunities to reconnect with old friends, forge new professional relationships, and share experiences with colleagues from around the world. We are confident that your participation in the International Symposium “Pain in the Baltics 2024” will be an enriching and memorable experience. We look forward to your active involvement in the discussions and activities planned.
For more information, please visit our website.
Republic of Moldova
You can find more information here: https://nopainmoldova.org/events-old/smyp-salzburg/
This spring, we are celebrating the conclusion of our “Roadshow” educational sessions in rural areas. In total, we organized 17 seminars: 12 in rural regions and 5 for our colleagues in Chisinau.
On May 3, we launched the National Policy Platform on Pain Management, which provides a unified framework for policymakers, healthcare providers, researchers, and patients to collaborate effectively. Establishing a common language and shared objectives, fosters synergy among diverse stakeholders, ensuring that efforts are coordinated and resources optimized. The Memorandum of collaboration was signed as a main result of this event.
The official press release from the Parliament can be found here: https://parlament.md/Actualitate/comunicatedepresa/tabid/90/contentid/10878/page/0/laguage/ro-RO/Default.aspx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_o3Y47aio&ab_channel=ParlamentulRepubliciiMoldova
We are currently focused on developing a roadmap that will serve as the foundation for our future implementation of a national pain management system. It is crucial not only to apply but also to adapt contemporary pain management principles to suit our local context and conditions.
The signed memorandum includes a crucial point regarding the collaborative efforts of all professional societies: the development of the National Pain Protocol, which is scheduled to launch in autumn 2025. We are also pleased to announce that we are diligently working on implementing a “zero fees” policy for our members. We believe that professional associations should operate on a volunteer basis. Therefore, we are eliminating membership fees for all current and future members of the Moldovan Society for the Study and Management of Pain.
As a logical continuation of our efforts, we are pleased to announce three new initiatives we are currently working on. Firstly, we plan to release a second edition of the short guide, building upon the initial pilot version. Additionally, a straightforward method to enhance the situation involves better management of perioperative pain. Standardizing perioperative care nationwide will significantly reduce adverse outcomes, as currently, the level of care varies across the country. Our approach will begin by focusing on early intervention, aiming to reduce procedural pain in children and offering a more positive hospital experience for young patients.
We are always open to collaboration to enhance the national pain management landscape.
Russia
- Discogenic lumbosacral radiculopathy;
- Musculoskeletal (nonspecific) low back pain.
Since 2024, face-to-face practical schools of the RASP “Pain Medicine – from theory to practice 2024!” have been organized, taking place in various cities of the Russian Federation. Within the framework of the School, the main provisions of clinical recommendations are presented for the first time and practical aspects of their application are demonstrated. Participants of the school will be able to master the skills of neuroorthopedic examination, methods of modern diagnosis of low back pain, radiculopathy, principles of identifying the risks of chronic pain.
Also, the Russian Association for the Study of Pain has created the All-Russian educational project “RASP ONLINE – Pain Medicine in questions and answers 2024!” At a time convenient for different regions of Russia, educational webinars will be presented to the audience, which will be held in a unique discussion format and will address the most pressing issues of differential diagnosis and treatment of pain.
In April 2024, the XII All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference “Low back pain – a multidisciplinary problem 2024” is planned, in May 2024 – the XXX All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference of the RASP “Pain Medicine – from understanding to action 2024”, in October 2024 – the V Russian-Belarusian Scientific and Practical Conference “Pain Treatment without borders 2024“. The main goal is to spread advanced knowledge on the problem of pain, improve the interaction of doctors of various specialties in the complex therapy of patients with pain syndromes and exchange experience on the organization of specialized analgesic care.
In June 2024, the Russian Association for the Study of Pain will hold the second educational school for young scientists “Pain Medicine – from Theory to Practice 2024” on the basis of the unique medical center of the Zvenigorod Sechenov University sanatorium.
In 2023, a new project, ЦентрБоли.рф, was launched. The main tasks are to provide solid and scientifically based information on pain treatment for patients, inform about existing clinics and pain centres in Russia, support the creation and development of clinics and pain centres in Russia.
Serbia
Multimodal interdisciplinary chronic pain management: the way to go.
The Annual Congress of the Serbian Association of Pain Research and Treatment – SAPRT, will take place on October 18 and 19 2024, at the Rectorate Building of the University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
The event focuses on interdisciplinary pain management, allowing national and international lecturers from various medical disciplines to present their findings and disseminate good practices.
Spain
The Sociedad Espanola Del Dolor – Spanish Pain Society (SED) released an institutional opinion on the European Medicines Agency (EMA)‘s recent initiative concerning metamizole-based medications.
EMA has launched a review of medications containing the painkiller metamizole due to concerns that the current measures to minimise the known risk of agranulocytosis may be insufficient.
In line with statements from the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS), SED states that, in its standard practice, it has found no evidence of harm beyond what is already described in the technical datasheet. Moreover, SED finds it crucial to highlight that cases of agranulocytosis or life-threatening risks associated with metamizole consumption are negligible.
Read the complete statement here.
Switzerland
The Annual Congress of the Swiss Pain Society (SPS), organised jointly with the Swiss Gender Health Network (SGHN), will take place on November 14 and 15 2024, at the Kultur & Kongresshaus Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland.
Gender inequalities are increasingly recognized in many health settings, and pain is no exception. Biological, social or environmental factors can influence pain on different levels, be it in the pathophysiological mechanisms, the severity or detection, the treatment or prevention of pain.
As part of this congress, we invite you to exchange the latest findings on gender and gender in pain in the presence of national and international experts from various disciplines. Together, we want to reflect on the influence of sex/gender on pain and explore ways in which the dimensions of sex and gender can be integrated into practice, research and teaching to improve patient care.
More information here
