EFA Newsletter September 2025

Welcome to the EFA News

Welcome to EFA News, dear advocates and partners,

September has been a truly inspiring month for our community, and it is not over yet! On World Atopic Eczema Day, we came together with members, patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and partners to share the #AtopicEczemaJourney. The stories told across Europe and globally showed not only the daily struggles but also the strength and resilience of people living with atopic eczema seeking for real change. Thank you for your partnership, support and participation!

At the EADV Congress in Paris, EFA joined dermatology and patient leaders to explore how Artificial Intelligence can (and cannot) support people with atopic eczema. It was also a valuable opportunity to meet members, partners and fellow organisations to shape new collaborations. Just a few days earlier in Padua, the GA²FA 2025 brought together leading scientists, clinicians, policymakers, regulators, young researchers, and patient representatives to tackle the most pressing issues in anaphylaxis and food allergy care. I was glad to see many of our members leading discussions, from strengthening anaphylaxis response in schools, calling for clearer precautionary allergen labelling as well as the standardisation of food allergens, to the path forward for improving food allergen use in Oral Food Challenges and for therapeutic applications.

Looking ahead, the EFA delegation will be present at the European Respiratory Society Congress 2025 in Amsterdam, contributing to discussions on better respiratory health for all to #KeepBreathing. We also invite you to join us at the European Health Forum Gastein on 1 October for our patient-led session on advancing respiratory health equity across the life-course.

Warm regards,

Marcia Podestà
EFA President

Community

EFA brings patient perspective to EADV 2025

Last week, the #EFACommunity and fellow patient groups brought the skin patient perspective to the EADV Congress in Paris, organised by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Our Director, Susanna Palkonen, and dermatologist Kenneth Thomsen led a timely discussion on whether - and how - Artificial Intelligence can support care, treatment and life of people with Atopic Eczema. The congress also allowed our team to represent patients in relevant fora such as the Global Skin Europe Community, the EADV Patient Advocacy Task Force, direct meetings with partners and healthcare professionals to strengthen collaborations — especially following the recent WHO Resolution on skin diseases as a global public health priority.

Join us online! EFA and ELHG are hosting a Lung Health policy session at European Health Forum Gastein 2025

1 October | Bad Hofgastein & online

EFA and the European Lung Health Group (ELHG) are bringing lung health to the spotlight at the European Health Forum Gastein 2025. Our policy session, Breathing together for change: A vision for lung health policies across the life-course, will gather EU health policy leaders to discuss how to build stronger, fairer lung health policies in Europe. You are still on time to register and attend the session online.

Meet the speakers: José Luis Castro (WHO Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases), Thomas Allvin (EFPIA Executive Director for Strategy and Healthcare Systems), Cornel Radu-Loghin (ENSP Secretary General), Susanna Palkonen (EFA Director), and Dr. Zsuzsanna Miklos (JARED Representative).

If you are attending in person, get a lung test! Gundula Koblmiller from our Austrian member Lungenunion, will be on-site together with Sven Verschraegen from University Hospital Gent, offering free spirometry testing to highlight the importance of lung function and early detection.

Care

World Atopic Eczema Day: shining a light on the Atopic Eczema Journey

On 14 September, EFA, together with GlobalSkin, co-organised World Atopic Eczema Day under the theme Our Skin, Our Journey. This year’s #AtopicEczemaJourney campaign captured the stories, challenges and resilience of people living with atopic eczema seeking to change this journey, but also to share best practices. Across Europe, our EFA community of members joined forces with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals to raise awareness and advance atopic eczema care through national campaigns and advocacy. Their efforts made the journey visible, from daily struggles to moments of strength and hope. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s #AtopicEczemaJourney a powerful community effort! Special thanks to GlobalSkin, our partner for this campaign, GAAPP and supporting partners.

Europe’s next long-term budget: will respiratory patients be left behind?

The European Commission has unveiled its proposal for the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), worth nearly €2 trillion. While the plan aims to boost competitiveness, climate resilience, and security, health risks losing visibility: the EU4Health programme has been absorbed into a broader Competitiveness Fund, leaving public health without a dedicated budget. EFA responded to consultations to ensure patients’ voices are heard, calling for investment in access to care, stronger health systems and prevention of respiratory diseases. Europe’s resilience depends on health and now is the time to make sure respiratory patients are not left behind.

Read our full response

EFA puts forward the heart and lung connection in the EU proposal for a cardiovascular health plan

The European Commission has launched a consultation on the first-ever EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, a landmark initiative to tackle Europe’s leading cause of death. In our response, EFA shed light from the respiratory patient community on why heart and lung health cannot be separated. Many patients live with both conditions, often worsened by the same risks such as smoking, pollution and inequality. We call on the EU to ensure this plan becomes a blueprint for a future EU Lung Health Plan.

Read our recommendations

Prevent

Climate resilience: protecting respiratory patients from today’s risks

Extreme heat, wildfires, aggravated pollen and air pollution are already a daily reality of climate change. For people with asthma, COPD, and allergy, this means worsening symptoms, more hospital visits and even premature deaths. Yet Europe is not prepared to protect the most vulnerable groups. In our response to the EU Climate Resilience and Risk Management Plan consultation, EFA called for health to be at the heart of future climate policy: equal focus on mitigation and adaptation, national heat-health plans, stronger monitoring and real engagement with affected communities.

Read our recommendations

Members Community News

Respiriamo Insieme launches Italy’s first web series on COPD

Respiriamo Insieme, EFA member from Italy, has co-created "Dammi il LA" (Set the tone), the first Italian web series dedicated to COPD, now the third leading cause of death worldwide. Produced with leading respiratory societies and supported by the Menarini Group, the series raises awareness about COPD and prevention through the story of a community choir facing challenges together. Through the larger initiative "Diamogli Voce" (“Let’s Give It a Voice”), Respiriamo Insieme ensures that patients’ voices and experiences are front and centre.