Addressing (Low) Back Pain in the Era of the European Pillar of Social Rights: Assessing Impact and Sharing Good Practices Across Europe.

Abstract

Abstract The manuscript provides the scientific society and experts involved in pain relief and patient empowerment with a good practice focused on low back pain (LBP). Such best practice is particularly relevant today, taking into account the important advancements in the fight against pain and the new context of the European Pillar of Social Rights. In particular, key principle N.17 on the “Inclusion of people with disabilities” declares that “People with disabilities have the right to income support that ensures living in dignity, services that enable them to participate in the labor market and in society, and a work environment adapted to their needs” [1]. In continuity with its long-term policy on the fight against pain, the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva APS [2], through its EU branch Active Citizenship Network [3] (ACN), has become an official Ambassador for the EU Social Pillar, following the invitation by the EU Commission-DG EMPL in 2020, in order to contribute to better implement the European Pillar of Social Rights for people suffering from chronic pain. This article has been written with the hope that the collection and dissemination of good practices against chronic pain, which ACN has been carried out across Europe for years, as well as the online publication of good practices by experts and committed operators, could be valued in the contest of the European Pillar of Social Rights and contribute to transfer the recent achievement on chronic pain from the European political agenda to the European culture as fast as possible.