The European Group of Governmental Experts on Dementia held its second meeting on 17 and 18 June 2019 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 20 European countries were represented at the meeting, in addition to representatives from the 2 European Joint Action on Dementia (Act on Dementia/DEM2), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Alzheimer Europe.
The group met for the first time in December 2018 as a response to the decision of the European Commission to disband its condition-specific expert groups in favour of a broader health prevention of non-communicable diseases group. The health ministries of Italy, The Netherlands and Scotland (UK), along with Alzheimer Europe, agreed that such a platform was vital for the exchange of knowledge and expertise between countries.
At this second meeting, members of the 2 Joint Action, provided members of the group with an update on the latest progress and findings from their respective work package areas: Diagnosis and post-diagnostic support; Crisis and care coordination; Residential care, and; Dementia-friendly communities.
Following each introduction, members of the group were able to contribute, sharing the work taking place in their countries, as well as asking questions of each other, to find out how barriers had been overcome in different areas. The WHO also updated members on the progress made in implementing its “Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025”, including the publication of the iSupport resource for carers, and the progress of the Global Dementia Observatory.
The group will meet, for a third time, in December 2019 in Brussels, Belgium.
