Economic Considerations of Pain

The SIP Position Paper on Employment and the Economic Considerations of Pain (2026) sets out the joint position of the European Pain Federation EFIC and Pain Alliance Europe (PAE) on the interlinked challenges of chronic pain, employment, and economic sustainability across the European Union. It frames chronic pain as a significant public health, social, and economic issue, with wide-ranging consequences for individuals, labour markets, employers, and public finances.

The paper highlights that chronic pain contributes substantially to both direct healthcare expenditure and indirect costs, including reduced productivity, sickness absence, disability, and labour market exit. It underscores the need for coordinated action across health, employment, and social policy domains to address these impacts in a sustainable and equitable manner.

Furthermore, this paper argues that chronic pain places a substantial burden on individuals, economies, and societies. Its economic impact encompasses both direct healthcare costs and indirect costs linked to reduced productivity, including absenteeism, presenteeism, sickness absence, loss of income, disability benefits, and unemployment support. Together, these costs are estimated to represent approximately 3% to 10% of GDP annually across EU Member States.

In a context where EU public health is increasingly framed through the lens of economic competitiveness and resilience, addressing the burden of chronic pain should be recognised as a strategic investment in productivity, social wellbeing, and long-term economic stability. Integrating chronic pain into EU-level NCD strategies and related policy frameworks is therefore essential.

Beyond health policy, employment-focused initiatives such as the Quality Jobs Act present an important opportunity to address the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and improve outcomes for the significant proportion of European workers affected by these conditions.

Finally, in light of fiscal pressures highlighted in the European Commission’s proposal for a Council Recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area, investment in pain prevention and management at national level represents a cost-effective approach. It can enhance the efficiency and quality of public spending while supporting the long-term fiscal sustainability of EU Member States.