The Madrid Manifesto 2010

The Madrid Manifesto signed last month in Madrid, Spain, is a step toward improving migraine treatment and awareness in Europe and around the world.

The World Health Organization ranks migraine as the 12th leading cause of disability in women, and the 19th leading cause overall.  It affects 12-15% of the population, and costs the economy of Europe an estimated €27 billion every year.

And yet, after all that, it’s still often considered "just a headache".  Only 40% of patients are happy with their treatment, and that’s when they even feel confident going to the doctor in the first place.

The European Headache Alliance and its partners wants to see practical steps taken to see real change over the next five years.  That’s why the Madrid Manifesto was signed.

The manifesto first calls on the governments in Europe to be involved.  This includes promoting awareness and research, and focusing on improving quality of life for patients.

Next, a number of targets are listed for the 5 year time frame.  Here are some of them:

• The number of patients satisfied with the management and treatment of their condition should increase to 70% from the current level of 40%.
• Every patient diagnosed with Migraine should receive a proper explanation of the condition and appropriate treatment on their first visit to a healthcare professional.
• Migraine must be recognised as a disability and those affected should receive equal protection under national and European Disability and Employment laws.
• A module in headache/migraine care should be available in every medical training school for General Practitioners.

Some of these things may seem like common sense, but, as many of us know, to actually plan to make it happen is an ambitious goal.

The manifesto will be reviewed each European Migraine Day of Action, which falls on the 12th of September each year.

You can read the full Madrid Manifesto for yourself (it’s only two pages) by visiting the news release from the Migraine Association of Ireland.