Brussels, 24/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The debate held at the European Parliament on 23 January, which focused on improving access to life-saving therapy for acute heart attack patients, highlighted the fact that there are vast inequalities in access to care across Europe, mainly with regard to emergency services, the hospital network and the reimbursement of care given.
Organised under the aegis of the European Critical Care Foundation (ECCF), the debate focused on improving access to life-saving therapy for acute heart attack patients. Those taking part showed their determination to join forces in order to find ways to combat the inequalities that exist in medical care between member states. Representatives of the associations involved in the debate (ECCF, Stent for Life, EAPCI, European Society for Cardiology, EuroPCR) thus made a commitment to work towards improving the care delivered to heart patients in all member states, and to encourage the diffusion of p-PCI (Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention), a non-surgical method for opening blocked blood vessels that cause heart attacks, thereby improving circulation and reducing thoracic pain. Rapid and effective treatment is key to improving the quality of life of patients suffering from cardiac problems, and therefore to avoiding cardiovascular incidents, such as repeated heart attacks. The p-PCI is often the most valid method, say ECCF and Stent for Life. However, for such intervention to be effective, it must be used within two hours after the first symptoms appear and by specialist teams - which is not always the case. “Our research into access to p-PCI across Europe has shown the patients are not getting the proper treatment because of rather surprising factors, such as emergency transport response times and lack of coordination between hospitals”, said Professor John Martin, ECCF President. In his view, patient access to p-PCI varies between 5% and 92%, depending on the country in which the patient lives. Antigoni Papdopoulou (S&D, Cyprus), who chaired the debate, said one must remember that cardiovascular diseases, that can lead to heart attacks, are the cause of more deaths than all cancers combined. MEPs attending the debate pledged to take initiatives to urge the European Commission and the member states to consider concrete action to reduce the inequalities in healthcare systems. (IL/transl.jl)