Together to relieve Chronic Pain
The first Global Day Against Pain was organised in 2004 by the International Association on the Study of Pain (IASP) and the European Federation of the IASP Chapters (EFIC). The World Health Organization (WHO) co-sponsored the campaign, which originated from the collective efforts of pain management organisations and advocacy groups seeking to address the widespread impact of pain on individuals and societies globally. Over the years, it has evolved into a broader awareness campaign, marked by educational activities, public campaigns, and collaborative initiatives to improve the lives of those affected by pain, such as IASP’s Global Year Campaign.
Starting in 2024, the European Pain Federation EFIC established a ‘European Day on Pain Awareness’ dedicated to increasing understanding and awareness of chronic pain, a condition affecting millions worldwide. Celebrated annually on the third Wednesday of October, the European Day on Pain Awareness brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, patients, and the general public through a collaborative campaign. This day emphasises the significant impact chronic pain has on patients’ lives, often leading to physical, emotional, and economic burdens. The aim is to foster a supportive environment where those affected by chronic pain can find the resources, understanding, and care they need. Through these efforts, the day aims to reduce the stigma associated with chronic pain, improve patient outcomes, and advocate for policy changes that prioritise effective pain management.
Theme for 2025: Preventive Healthcare for Chronic Pain
Prevention was identified as a key priority by the European Commission for this term’s EU Health Policy Agenda. Given the critical role of preventive healthcare in managing chronic pain, EFIC has chosen to make it a central focus for this year’s European Day on Pain Awareness theme.
Furthermore, it is also one of the main priorities for the Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) Platform in 2025. The Platform is drawing attention to the need for early and coordinated action to reduce the burden of pain across Europe. As part of this initiative, SIP will host its main annual event, “From Burden to Prevention: Reframing Chronic Pain in EU Health Policy,” on 14 October 2025 at the European Parliament. The event will bring together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates to emphasise prevention as a key approach in tackling chronic pain. SIP will also present its new Position Statement on Preventive Healthcare, with the aim of influencing future EU strategies in health, employment, and research.
The epidemic of pain
- Pain is a major global health challenge, causing significant disability, reducing quality of life, and placing a heavy burden on healthcare systems and economies. Despite its widespread impact, pain remains under-recognised and underfunded in research. To help address this, the European Pain Federation (EFIC) has developed a Pain Research Strategy for Europe, aiming to highlight urgent research priorities and guide investment. Through this initiative, EFIC seeks to drive progress in pain understanding and management, ultimately easing the societal and personal toll of pain.
- In Europe alone, almost 20% of the adult population reports having moderate or severe chronic pain. This means there are 150 million people in Europe experiencing chronic pain.
- Pain is the most common reason people seek healthcare and the leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life.
Resources now available
EFIC has put together different resources on this year’s theme. Please find them below available in English. For additional languages, please reach out to secretary@efic.org.
Feel free to use these to promote this year’s theme, spread awareness and draw further attention to this important campaign.
Easy to understand pain explainers and downloads
The European Pain Federation EFIC wants to provide resources and promote research opportunities to increase public awareness of pain and pain management. Feel free to access our explainers, visuals and infographics which are a great resource for clinicians who want to give their patients some basic introductory information on pain:
SIP Access to Treatment Infographics
Join the EFIC Academy
The EFIC Academy Education Platform provides access to the highest quality online pain education material. It includes tailored material to the four EFIC curricula, developed by leading European educators specifically with an online learning environment in mind.
Among the resources available, the interactive Clinical Case videos offer valuable insights to understand chronic pain and learn state-of-the-art therapeutic approaches, to enhance clinical skills in day-to-day practice. To find out more and become a member, please click here.
EFIC Advocacy Projects
The European Pain Federation EFIC campaigns to improve government policies that affect pain and raise awareness of pain’s importance, including its management, treatment and prevention, amongst patients and the general public. Find out more about current projects here:
“Plain Talking”: EFIC Campaign on Health Literacy
“On the Move”: EFIC Campaign on Physical Activity
Other Events
The 15th Congress of the European Pain Federation EFIC will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from the 21st – 23rd April 2027. Building on the success of #EFIC2025 in Lyon, EFIC 2027 will bring together leading experts to explore the latest developments in pain science, education, and clinical practice. Stay informed and discover more about EFIC’s upcoming Congress at https://europeanpainfederation.eu/efic2027/
EFIC Research Projects
Between 2021 and 2024, the European Pain Federation EFIC developed a ‘pain research strategy’ in order to provide focus for future funding topics, reduce ‘research waste’, improve the effectiveness of pain research and therapy and promote the uptake of research evidence. The pain research strategy should provide leadership for the European pain research community and establish a focal point for major funders of pain research such as the European Commission. The full text can be found here: A pain research strategy for Europe: A European survey and position paper of the European Pain Federation EFIC
EFIC has also launched its Pain Scientist Network, our internal listing of pain scientists, organised by their research expertise and activity fields. Pain scientists taking part to the network will have the opportunity to connect to other researchers in their field and multiply their collaborations.
EFIC launched its Education Study, which examines the current state of pain education across Europe, highlighting gaps in training and offering recommendations for improving curricula in medical and healthcare programs.
