EDMA supports the Rare Disease Day

On the occasion of the 2011 Rare Disease Day, EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, underlines the crucial role the In Vitro Diagnostic industry can play to diagnose rare diseases.

Brussels 28 February 2011 – EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, fully supports the 2011 Rare Disease Day which is being celebrated in more than 40 countries worldwide with a multitude of local initiatives.

This year the focus will be on “Rare Diseases and Health Inequalities” and the campaign motto, “rare but equal”, recalls all involved stakeholders art. 35 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights which states that “Everyone has the right of access to preventive health care and the right to benefit from medical treatment under the conditions established by national laws and practices. A high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities”.

Established in 2007, Rare Disease Day is the annual, awareness−raising event coordinated by EURORDIS at the International Level and National Alliances of Patients Organizations at the national level.

Supporting the battle against Rare Diseases it is now even more crucial than in the past given that the debate around the 3^rd European Health Programme (2014−2020), managed by DG SANCO, is currently in a crucial phase.

EDMA has proven its long-standing commitment to rare diseases, in particular through the promotion of the added value of testing and early diagnosis. To this end, EDMA coordinates Lab Tests Online (www.labtestsonline.info), a global, multilingual, peer-reviewed, patient-centred and non-commercial information portal on laboratory testing originally developed by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC).

About EDMA:

EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, represents national associations and major companies engaged in the research, development, manufacture or distribution of In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) tests in Europe. Through its membership, EDMA represents in total more than 500 companies (or over 700 legal entities) across Europe. The mission of EDMA is to raise awareness of the importance, usefulness and added value that diagnostic information can provide to healthcare. For this purpose, EDMA cooperates with European institutions, patients groups, trade associations, health professionals and academia to support an appropriate regulatory system, to work towards a realistic economic environment for healthcare in Europe and to be an effective voice in globalisation.

For more information, please visit the EDMA website