Patient Corner @ WCN: For the first time, EFNA hosted a Patient Corner in the Exhibition Centre where our Member Groups and Partners were invited to distribute information and network with the health professional and industry delegates from across the world. Stands were taken by European Headache Alliance, European Huntington’s Association, European Polio Union, International Brain Tumour Alliance, Danish Trigeminal Neuralgia Association, ADHD Europe, Pain Alliance Europe, Euro-Ataxia, European Multiple Sclerosis Association and European Alliance for Restless Legs Syndrome.

EFNA used this opportunity to promote our work and garner support for our Pledge to Protect Neuroscience Research and Neurology Patients. We had hundreds of new signatures and lots of support for our work in Europe and worldwide.

See our photos here.

Joint EFNA-EFNS Session: EFNA also hosted our annual joint session with our colleagues at the European Federation of Neurological Societies. This year we have secured a slot early in the programme. Our ‘Making a Case for Neurology’ session focussed on best practice advocacy in neurology by presenting data on the burden and cost of neurological disorders globally and reflecting on successful case-studies in influencing and working with policy makers to achieve progress.

Patient’s Day: The Patient’s Day at this year’s World Congress of Neurology will took place on Saturday, September 21st from 15.00-17.00hrs. The presentations in German – from experts in the field – focussed on brain tumours, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

General Assembly 2013: The EFNA General Assembly took place in Vienna on Saturday, September 21st. This year, we will welcomed twelve of our Member Organisations and four new Members – International Bureau for Epilepsy, European Myasthenia Gravis Association, Pain Alliance Europe (Associate) and the Danish Trigeminal Neuralgia Association (Associate). ADHD-Europe will also joined us as Observers.

Our Annual Report for 2012/3 and the Operational Plan for 2014 were presented and approved. Read the report here.

Other Activities: EFNA also attended the EFNS Council, Management, Training/Education and Liaison Committee meetings. For the first time, our Members were also invited to sit on and contribute to the EFNS Scientific Panels in their disease areas – an initiative we plan to build on in future following positive feedback. EFNA was also present at the International Press Briefing and at various sessions throughout the conference.

NEXT STOP: EFNS/ENS JOINT CONGRESS ISTANBUL 2014! May 31 to June 3.