Arthritis Care Chief elected to prestigious Euro health body

Arthritis Care's chief executive Neil Betteridge has been elected vice-president of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR).

EULAR is an influential pan-continental body made up of those scientists, health professionals, and patient groups with an interest in improving understanding and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

Their aim is "to stimulate, promote, and support the research, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of rheumatic diseases."

On the European political level, it represents the interests of the rheumatic disease community, and positions itself to partner European policy makers when health policies and regulatory frameworks are developed.

Neil, who is also chair of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA), the UK member of EULAR, has been elected for the second time, having previously served a four-year stint as EULAR's vice-president between 2001 and 2005.

"It's a great honour to return to EULAR as vice-president just when the European Parliament has rightly adopted arthritis as a priority", he said.

"There are 100 million people with arthritis in Europe, and EULAR is a powerful voice for their interests. Its members include not only the user-led organisations who lobby at the national level, raising awareness of arthritis and campaigning for access to the latest and most appropriate treatments, but also many of the talented scientists, researchers and health professionals who actually develop or deliver those treatments".

Find out more information about EULAR