Call for epilepsy action

The White Paper is launched in Brussels

A drive to improve the care of people with epilepsy is being launched at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Campaigners presented a "European White Paper on Epilepsy" to MEPs on Thursday.

The document has been drawn up by the pressure group EUCARE (European Concerted Action and Research in Epilepsy) in partnership with the Commission on European Affairs of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).

It says epilepsy is the most common serious brain disorder in every country of the European Union.

The stigma associated with epilepsy is often harder to live with than the condition itself

Professor Martin Brodie, Western Infirmary

But people with the condition still often suffer from stigmatisation and discrimination.

The report also argues that insufficient funding is being made available for research into new treatments.

The initiative is supported by John Bowis, MEP for London, a former Tory health minister.

He said: "This initiative is long overdue and provides us with the opportunity to focus our minds on what can and needs to be achieved for those with epilepsy.

"I cannot stress enough the urgency of action. Everyone, regardless of position in society, can affect the change outlined in paper."

Parliamentary group

Mr Bowis is setting up a group of MEPs called the Parliamentary Advocates for Epilepsy.

The aim is to campaign for legislation to improve the treatment of people with epilepsy, particularly within the workplace.

But Mr Bowis added: "'For maximum impact, the White Paper must be taken up at local country level where specific areas needing improvement must be identified.

"We hope that the white paper can act as a springboard from which local action plans can be developed in accordance with their needs."

It is estimated that 15m people in Europe will have epilepsy at some time in their life.

Professor Martin Brodie, chair of the Commission on European Affairs and director of the Epilepsy Unit at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, said: "The stigma associated with epilepsy is often harder to live with than the condition itself, impacting on many aspects of life, for example, employment.

"For years epilepsy has been ignored, and I believe this European white paper on epilepsy has come at the perfect time.

"Epilepsy remains notoriously underfunded and misunderstood."

A spokesperson for the British Epilepsy Association said: "With a total of 6m people with epilepsy in Europe, we hope the launch of the white paper will herald the beginning of a new age of awareness and understanding about the condition."