ERS, as a member of the European Chronic Disease Alliance (ECDA), supported the ECDA’s recent call to action upon the EU Commission, the European Parliament and EU Member States’ Governments to work towards improving the employment opportunities of people with chronic diseases in Europe.
The call was endorsed by over 38 organisations from the health, social and employment sectors, and it highlights key policy areas in which improvements can be made to boost employment opportunities for people with chronic diseases. The call recommends:
- Investing in prevention and earlier detection of chronic diseases
- Improving the integration of care to strengthen chronic disease rehabilitation, recovery and employment
- Putting in place a favourable environment including financial/non-financial incentives and adequate policies to support employment, return-to-work or retention at work of people with chronic diseases
- Ensuring appropriate training of employers on the issue of chronic diseases and working conditions and promoting chronic disease awareness at the work place