European Parkinson's Disease Association
Formation | 1992 |
---|---|
Type | Non-profit Organization (NPO) |
Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
Membership | 45 |
President | Knut-Johan Onarheim |
Website | www.epda.eu.com |
The European Parkinson's Disease Association (EPDA) is a non political, non-religious, and non-profit making organisation concerned with the health and welfare of people living with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their families and carers.
The EPDA is the only European Parkinson’s disease umbrella organisation. Founded in June 1992, in Munich, with a membership of 9 European Parkinson's patient organisations, the EPDA currently has a membership of 45 organisations[1] from across Europe.
The EPDA provides an important forum for partnership. By encouraging constructive dialogue between national Parkinson's disease organisations, international patient and neurological organisations, and the pharmaceutical industry.
Aims and objectives
The EPDA vision[2] is to enable all people with Parkinson’s in Europe to live a full life while supporting the search for a cure.
In order to make this vision a reality, the EPDA aims to become the leading voice for Parkinson’s in Europe – providing innovative leadership, information and resources to national Parkinson’s organisations, European policymakers, the treatment industry, healthcare professionals and the media. In achieving these aims, to raise the profile of Parkinson’s and enable people living with the disease to be treated effectively and equally throughout Europe.
By working with their members – who represent the needs of individual people with Parkinson’s and their families at a national level – the EPDA aims to:
- ensure equal and timely access to prompt diagnosis and good-quality Parkinson’s care across Europe by raising standards and reducing existing inequalities
- support the development of national Parkinson’s organisations throughout Europe
- increase public and political awareness of Parkinson’s as a priority health challenge
- help reduce stigma and remove discrimination against people with Parkinson’s.