E.F.C.C.A. Projects

1. Social Security Project
The objective of this project was to investigate the provisions of the many national social security and other financial support systems in Europe, particularly on the subjects set out below and to seek to improve provisions in Member Association countries by comparison with the best practice.

• free medical attention for the chronically ill;
• pensions for disablement, even where the sufferer may never have been able to work, including partial or variable disability;
• assistance with special foods and diets, psychotherapy, physiotherapy and holidays;
• availability of specialist doctors and medical teams;
• opportunity for patients to select their own doctors and hospitals;
• job protection to avoid dismissal through IBD;
• retraining where IBD precludes continuing in an existing trade or profession;
• availability of life assurance or insurance covering travel and other risks;
• exemption from military service.
  EFCCA has produced a first report and will apply the information acquired through this and other such studies in approaching health care professionals, local and national governments and the European Union.

2. Quality of Life
An investigation concerning symptoms, complications, treatment and medication for IBD patients and the resultant physical, social, financial and employment problems facing them. The purpose was to canvass the views of patients rather than those of doctors on the many important features of IBD relating to quality of life beyond the purely medical aspects and to make this information available more widely particularly in discussions by health care professionals, governments and employers on issues affecting the chronically ill.

3. Travelling with IBD Brochures and Medical Passport
A series of Travelling with IBD brochures have been prepared in various languages to cover the different EFCCA countries, e.g. in English for use in Spain and Dutch for use in Austria. They give details of all special information needed by IBD patients to enable them to travel abroad, e.g. location of specialist IBD doctors and hospitals, diet, availability of free medical attention and how paid-for treatment is handled.
There is also an English language Medical Passport to record details of the patient's condition, treatment, drugs, dosage, etc. which enables the patient to inform local doctors and hospitals more easily on such matters when abroad.
In addition, where someone with IBD travels to another country whether on holiday, or as a student, or to work, or for some other reason, the host country Association (including non-member Associations) may be requested to provide assistance to the traveller if he or she has problems associated with IBD.
Where possible Guest Exchange and Pen-friendships are encouraged. A review of the contents of the Travelling with IBD Brochures is being undertaken during year 2004

4. Promoting the Formation of New National Associations
EFCCA assists those with IBD who are willing and able to establish their own self-help associations in European countries where such associations do not exist. As a matter of practice, a medical adviser in the relevant country will normally be approached to see whether it may be feasible to start up such an organisation and in its early stages, health care professionals are likely to take the lead in its development.

Any organisation which seeks membership of EFCCA must fulfil the following criteria:

• that its principal objective is the welfare of patients
• that the majority of its management board are persons with IBD.

5. EFCCA Youth Group
In June 2003 at the EFCCA General Assembly in Berlin it was formally agreed to establish an EFCCA Youth Group within the EFCCA umbrella. A team of 7, comprising 5 young representatives from the member national Crohn's and Colitis patient associations and 2 EFCCA member association delegates, will be coming together during 2004 to start to develop a work programme. A European Young IBD Peoples Weekend will be continue to be held annually hosted by an EFCCA member national association. The 5 young representatives are elected by the young delegates at this annual European Weekend.

Click here for EFCCA Youth Group Page

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THESE PROJECTS PLEASE CONTACT THE EFCCA SECRETARIAT - See EFCCA Membership for address.