Brussels, 30/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - CHRODIS, the joint action addressing chronic diseases and promoting healthy ageing, started its work in Madrid on 29 January under the leadership of the Institute of Health Carlos III. 50% of the total cost, i.e. €4.6 million out of a budget of €9.2 million, is financed by the health programme (2008-2013) of the European Union. The aim of CHRODIS is to help European Union countries and regions to exchange best practice in order to treat chronic diseases, with emphasis on prevention, multi-morbidity (people with more than one long-term condition) and diabetes. The joint action involves 38 organisations from 22 member states, plus Norway and Iceland, and will end its work in March 2017.
The work of CHRODIS should result in a mechanism allowing the collection, validation, scaling up and transferring of good practice in order to deal more effectively with the spread of chronic diseases worldwide. According to the WTO, 86% of deaths in Europe are now caused by a chronic disease.
Given these alarming statistics and the pressure exerted on healthcare systems, the European Union has decided to look at the issue in earnest and to help member states to combat the spread of chronic diseases by supporting projects and actions such as CHRODIS, points out the DG Health and Consumers at the European Commission. (IL/transl.jl)