European Primary Care Cardiovascular Society

This article is part of the Pharma_Portal project of Spinwatch.

The European Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (EPCCS) aims to provide a focus of support, education, research, and policy on issues relating to cardiovascular disease within primary care settings. It is a Wonca Europe Special Interest Group (WESIG) directed at those working within primary care; aiming to 'utilise the considerable evidence base that currently exists and to contribute to extending the evidence base where appropriate.' The society was founded in 2000.

Background

The EPCCS recognises that cardiovascular disease is the single most important disease presenting to primary care physicians in Europe: it is the number one cause of death through myocardial infarction and stroke, the commonest cause of premature death (before the age of 65) and the major cause of disability. As a result, cardiovascular disease is costly to care systems in Europe. The society aims to educate health care providers on the issue by organising symposia and conferences.

Structure

The EPCCS board consists of a Pan-European Working Group

Chairman EPCCS: Professor Richard Hobbs

Members of the EPCCS board:

• Dr Francesco Del Zotti, Italy
• Dr Didier Duhot, France
• Dr Rudolf Červený, Czech Republic
• Dr Carlos Brotons, Spain
• Dr Bjørn Gjelsvik, Norway
• Prof. Arno Hoes, The Netherlands
• Dr Christos Lionis, Greece
• Dr Denis Pouchain, France
• Prof. Martin Scherer, Germany
• Dr Edmond P Walma, The Netherlands
• Ms Jan Procter-King, United Kingdom

Members of the EPCCS

Includes all healthcare professionals (GPs/nurses) throughout Europe who manage millions of patients with diseases including:

• Hypertension
• Dyslipidaemia
• Heart failure
• Acute coronary syndromes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Metabolic disorders associated with obesity
• Cardiovascular consequences of cigarette smoking

Sponsors

'The EPCCS values the role of industry partners and considers this as an important cooperation in order to achieve its mission that is focussed on the role of primary care physicians in addressing the growing burden of cardiovascular disease.' The society promotes its annual meeting as 'an attractive marketing opportunity for our industry partners active in healthcare management.' It offers different sponsor opportunities to support the Annual Scientific meeting. All are aimed to improve the attendance and the educational quality of the meeting, such as:

• Sponsoring delegates to attend the meeting and maximize the number of participants
• Offering opportunities for promotional activities, such exhibitions, advertising, distribution of promotional materials and other
• Educational grants for satellite programmes or lectures (educational objectives and content are under auspices of the board of the EPCCS).

It also suggests that interested parties become ‘educational friends’ of the EPCCS, where they offer support for 3 years.

Resources

• EPCCS website