by David B. Vodušek
I congratulate Professor Waldemar on the interesting report in the March Forum. The information on the activities of the EFNS Liaison Committee should be most welcome to all those neurologists who care about our »European neurological community«.
Such insight into the work done by EFNS Committees has not been available in the past. From discussions with colleagues I find that even senior European neurologists often ignore the relevant work that is being done to strengthen cooperation within neurological societies, other organisations within the field of neuroscience and »health and research politics«. I hope many will have read the Waldemar report.
As defined by EFNS, the Liaison Committee assists the EFNS Management Committee in liaising with other professional and lay organizations as well as with the communication strategy. To the report published in March I would add that one of the important links in European neurology is the cooperation between EFNS and UEMS Section of Neurology. Professor Nils Erik Gilhus, member of the Liaison Committee, is the EFNS observer in UEMS SBN.
The European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1958 comprising the national medical organisations that represent medical specialists in the European Union and in associated countries. The UEMS is committed to the promotion of the highest attainable quality of medical care for European citizens, the highest standards of medical education for doctors, and the free movement of medical specialists throughout Europe. The »political strength« of UEMS lies in the fact that it unifies all medical specialists (apart from family doctors), and thus represents a most powerful lobbying institution for all kinds of medical and health issues in Brussels.
I add that UEMS SBN co-operates also with ENS and has links to several other UEMS Sections sharing interests in the wider field of caring for neurological patients of all ages. In the future co-operation with the European Academy of Neurology, as the most important scientific neurological society in Europe, is anticipated.
Information about the activities of UEMS SBN has been previously published in Neuropenews Forum:
EACCME UEMS – New developments, March 2013
European Board Examination in Neurology, December 2012
UEMS Section/ Board of neurology and the neurological scientific societies in Europe, September 2012
EACCME – European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, June 2012
UEMS – European Union of Medical Specialities, May 2012
