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Guest Editorial: What can the ESCRS
teach the EU?
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THE recent decision to admit 10 new nations into the European Union
is an exciting political development which gives reason to pause
and ask ourselves what it means to be a European and, in particular,
what it means to be a European ophthalmologist. I would emphasise
that while we can certainly learn something from the EU, the EU
can also learn something from the experience of the ESCRS.
Like the EU, the ESCRS includes members from diverse political,
economic and social backgrounds. And like the EU, the ESCRS membership
has been expanding steadily. Indeed, the ESCRS could be seen to
have blazed the trail in advance of the EU expansion, considering
that we have had members from the all of the EU countries, old and
new, for many years.
Fortunately, we did not wait for the politicians or for the European
bureaucracy to unite the field of European ophthalmology. The ESCRS
began its existence 25 years ago as a small professional organisation
and has grown in size and influence in the intervening years.
I’m also glad to say that there is a high level of co-operation
between our organisation and related groups such as the European
Society of Ophthalmology and the European Contact Lens Society of
Ophthalmologists.
In my view, we do not need more instructions, rules, regulations
and so on from the EU in Brussels. Rather, they need our advice
on facilitating communication and mutual benefits for a diverse
group of people united by common interests. Our policy is based
on mutual respect and understanding for all of our members, appreciating
the differences and making the most of the similarities.
Concrete examples of this approach include our annual conferences,
our journal and this news magazine, as well as ambitious pan-European
research projects such as the ongoing European Cataract Outcomes
Study Group and the recently initiated endophthalmitis prophylaxis
study. It should also be noted that, lacking any financial largess
from the EU, we accomplish our goals in a remarkably efficient and
cost-effective manner.
As Europe evolves, so too does the ESCRS. We can no longer remain
in our ivory towers. All of us are aware of the growing economic
pressures facing medical care in Europe. We must pursue a strong
policy of lobbying the EU to make sure our needs, and those of our
patients, are understood. As a part of this objective, we will pursue
a policy of closer links with national ophthalmology societies.
Closer links with our colleagues will help us to exert greater influence
at EU level.
The EU is poised to play a greater role in medical research. This
is one area in which we should concentrate our lobbying. The EU
says it will provide more financial resources for conducting research,
but has not spelled out how it will do so. Working with our colleagues,
we can help the EU understand where to allocate these funds for
important ophthalmological research.
The EU is also going to play an increasing role in the regulation
of health care. We want to make sure that our patients are protected
from malpractice. We also want to make sure that the highest standards
of care are maintained. We also look forward to a European-wide
system of clinical evaluation of new medications and, equally important,
of new medical devices.
These are not tasks only for the president and board, but for all
members of the ESCRS. I look forward to hearing your comments on
how the ESCRS can best serve the needs of our growing membership.
Your effort is greatly appreciated. Your effort is greatly needed.
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