Spotlight on EFPAM

Who are we?

The European Federation of Patients’ Associations for Anthroposophic Medicine (EFPAM) is a European federation of national patients’ organisations active in the field of anthroposophic medicine and healthcare. The Federation was founded in Switzerland on October 3, 2000. EFPAM has members in 12 member states of the European Union, three in non-EU countries and an affiliated association in Québec (Canada). The total membership is 60,000.

EFPAM is a co-signatory of the Common Resolution, signed by associations of patients, practitioners, and manufacturers in the field of non-conventional medicinal products (Brussels 2002) and cooperates with other organisations in the field of anthroposophic medicine within the framework of the International Coordination Anthroposophic Medicine (IKAM) in Dornach, Switzerland.

EFPAM is a member of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), the European Alliance for Applied Anthroposophy (ELIANT) and a corresponding member of the European Coalition on Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products (ECHAMP).

Who do we represent?

EFPAM represents the views and interests of people who want to use anthroposophic medicine in all its forms, in particular in the light of the individual right to self-determination. It promotes an equal status of anthroposophic medicine and healthcare in European and national legislation, the inclusion of all forms of anthroposophic medicine in national and private health insurance schemes, it promotes patients’ awareness and responsibility for the preservation and promotion of their own health, and it encourages research into anthroposophic medicine and therapies.

What is our mission?

EFPAM’s primary role is to represent the views and interests of people who want to use anthroposophic medicine in all its forms, besides or instead of other forms of medicine, in particular in the light of the individual right to self-determination.

EFPAM wants to act as an interlocutor for European, international and national institutions and to ascertain that policy makers within these institutions are kept well-informed of the wishes and needs of users of anthroposophic medicine.

EFPAM promotes the cultural and legal recognition of anthroposophic medicine in Europe and elsewhere in all its forms.

EFPAM promotes the recognition and inclusion of the rights of users of anthroposophic medicine in all its forms in present and future national and international law.

EFPAM wants to see all forms of anthroposophic medicine and healthcare included in the various national and private health insurance schemes, on the basis of equality of all citizens.

EFPAM actively promotes patients’ awareness and responsibility for the preservation and promotion of their own health and is an advocate of patients’ competence.

EFPAM furthers the concept of individual-based medicine, since no human being is the same.

EFPAM encourages research into anthroposophic medicine and healthcare.

EFPAM is a non-profit, non-governmental, voluntary association which operates completely independent of the sectoral interests of any single patients’ association, any (professional) organisation or company working in the field of medicine and/or healthcare (anthroposophic or other) in the broadest sense, as well as any country, region, or national or international agency.

What do we do?

EFPAM has structured its activities in two "programmes". Programme A activities concern communication and co-operative activities and Programme B contains more ambitious or complex activities.

Programme A (core programmes) • Information exchanges (website) • Working Groups/Commissions • Round Tables for discussion, information and collaboration • Project Patients’ Competence • Helping individual members (regional and national conferences)

Programme B • Political and advocacy functions • International cooperation • Long term strengthening activities

How do you get involved?

Although EFPAM’s activities are primarily focused on its own members, members of the public are encouraged to contribute by supporting their national patients’ associations.

EFPAM has its own website, www.efpam.org, which is currently under reconstruction.

EPHA related articles:

 A new consideration for CAM in the Commission?
 A new platform for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
 2006: fruitful year for complementary and alternative medicines at European level
 Complementary and Alternative Medicines in the European Court of Justice