Parliamentary question - E-004419/2011Parliamentary question
E-004419/2011

Research and awareness raising on epilepsy

Question for written answer E-004419/2011
to the Commission
Rule 117
David Casa (PPE)

Epilepsy is a medical condition affecting one per cent of teenagers in Europe, yet medical knowledge and public awareness of the condition remain limited. Globally, a full 40 % of sufferers do not receive the right medical treatment and in most cases the cause of the condition cannot be identified.

More funding is needed at the European level for medical research and more can be done to raise awareness and to ensure that an adequate number of specialists are practising in this field.

In response to a previous question on the EU's activities in this regard, the Commission replied (E‑001417/2011, Mr Dalli, 22.3.2011) that ‘there is currently no overall strategy dedicated to epilepsy in the EU. At present, the Commission does not plan to propose such a strategy.’

Has the Commission proposed, or does it intend to propose, strategies dedicated to other medical conditions in the EU? If so, what criteria, if any, determine whether a medical condition is addressed through a dedicated strategy? Why did epilepsy not meet these criteria?

OJ C 314 E, 27/10/2011