2. 2017 – New breakthroughs
Deputy Director General for Health Martin Seychell announced creation of European Commission Expert Group on the Social Impact of Pain (SIP)
We have been shortlisted to create a Thematic Network on SIP!
SIP to use these opportunities to formulate policy ideas and influence European Commission thinking

3. Vote for the Thematic Network on SIP
What will change?
The networks are accessible to all the EU health platform users: We will be able to engage many more stakeholders on the importance of tackling the societal impact of pain!
The content of the platform will feed into a draft joint statement – a useful tool in pushing policy makers into action on the issue of Pain.
What can you do? Vote for SIP
The European Commission has started a survey to select the topics for the Thematic Networks.
Out of 10 proposals only 4 will be selected based on this survey. Vote for SIP to be included in the selection!
The survey is only open until December 7th.
European Commission has given us the opportunity to upgrade the SIP Expert Group to a “Thematic Network on SIP”.
What will change?
Within the EU Health Policy Platform, the SIP Expert Group will move into the public domain. This means that stakeholders will not have to register anymore to see the platform’s content – which will allow to engage many more stakeholders on the importance of tackling the societal impact of pain!
In addition, the content of the platform will feed into a draft joint statement – a useful tool in pushing policy makers into action on the issue of Pain.
What can you do? Vote for SIP
The European Commission has started a survey to select the topics for the Thematic Networks. Out of 10 proposals only 4 will be selected based on this survey. Vote for SIP to be included in the selection! The survey is only open until December 7th. The decision on the four selected Thematic Networks will be taken by the end of December.

4. HOW TO VOTE

5. 1. Create an ECAS Account
Create an account in (ECAS) using a personalised address related to the represented organisation, if you have not one already
Follow the link to the IT Platform:
Please proceed to the registration as follows:
STEP 1: Follow the link to the IT Platform:
STEP 2: Create an account in the European Commission Authentication System (ECAS) using a personalised address related to the represented organisation. If you already have an ECAS account use it to log in

6. 2. Request access to AGORA
Once you created the account, you will receive an with further instructions.
Log in with your EU Login (ECAS) username and password.
This will take you to the home page of the Platform where you can request access to various networks.
Once you are logged in, you need to request access to Agora network. You will receive a confirmation as soon as access has been granted

7. 3. Vote For SIP
Once you are on the Agora network scroll the page until you find the post below

8. Voting takes few seconds!

9. While you are on the platform, register to the SIP expert group!
When requesting access to the Agora, scroll down to the bottom of the EU Health Policy homepage and request also access to the SIP expert group.
The conversation has already started…

10. Make the most of the SIP Expert Group
The SIP expert group has been officially launched, the expert group is hosted on the European Commission-led EU health platform, which in turn hosts also other related thematic networks on topic such as frailty and falls and employment of people with chronic diseases. This multidisciplinary environment offers opportunities to expand the current SIP network and create a platform for collaboration that goes beyond the existing Societal impact of pain partnerships. To this end, we invite you to create an ECAS account which will allow you access to the whole EU health policy platform and request access to our group ´the Social Impact of Pain Expert group´.
The group is managed by the European Pain Federation and our partner patient organisation Pain Alliance Europe. At the moment we are populating the platform with existing literature and relevant policy material on the social impact of pain with the help of our closer partners and allies. We are on the outlook for new fuel and ideas from other stakeholders interested in our cause. The platform provides the opportunity to post news, share documents, showcase events and create polls.
We will continue build up the platform until the end of the month and by the beginning of the new year we will launch an open consultation to develop evidence based policy recommendations to the European Commission.