Factsheet

Factsheet

About EUROCAM

EUROCAM is the European foundation uniting European umbrella organisations of patients, physicians, veterinarians and practitioners in the sector of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Healthcare (TCIH). EUROCAM represents 60,000 organised patients/citizens, 250 national CAM associations and a substantial part of the 400,000 doctors, and practitioners in this sector across Europe.

EUROCAM covers a broad spectrum of TCIH modalities, including acupuncture, Ayurveda, anthroposophic medicine, herbal medicine, homeopathic medicine, naturopathic or traditional European medicine, osteopathy, reiki therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine. The practice of TCIH modalities affiliated to EUROCAM is based on clinical expertise, which has been collected in the course of their existence, and the best available clinical evidence from scientific research built over the last few decades.

EU Transparency Register

EUROCAM is registered in the EU Transparency Register under Identification number 659086014916-83.

EUROCAM's aim

EUROCAM aims to promote the contribution of CAM to better health in Europe.

EUROCAM’s objectives are

  • Promoting and facilitating CAM’s role in enhancing and maintaining citizens' health.
  • Highlighting the health promotion and illness prevention aspects of TCIH for EU public health policy and programmes.
  • Advancing the accessibility, affordability and availability of TCIH.

Relevant policy implementation, public relations and communication activities

  • Engagement as a stakeholder in the development of EU policies related to public health, healthcare, research, social, economic, regional and other relevant areas
  • Conferences and Interest Group meetings at the European Parliament
  • Liaising with members of the European Parliament
  • Meetings with officials at relevant Directorates-General
  • Responding to Commission consultations
  • Involvement and participation in EU programmes
  • Publications on TCIH and its benefits for EU public health policies
  • Advocacy work at EU and national level
  • Strengthening the coherence of TCIH stakeholders
  • Cooperation with like-minded NGOs
  • Pursuing access to EU funding.

One in two EU citizens uses TCIH either alongside or as an alternative to conventional biomedical care. They would like to see increased integration of TCIH into healthcare systems. This in line with the European Parliament resolution on EU options for improving access to medicines (2016/2057(INI) saying that “patients should have access to the healthcare and treatment options of their choice and preference, including to complementary and alternative therapies and medicines” (Recital text, section D).

There is a growing movement toward “integrative” or collaborative practice models, attempting to bring TCIH and conventional medicine together in a cooperative fashion.

Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Healthcare focuses on the whole person and considers the individual in its physical, psychological, spiritual, social and environmental context. It is inclusive of all professions and practices that use this approach and meets the demand of EU citizens for a more holistic, patient-centred approach in medicine.

Memberships

  • WHO  - EUROCAM is a non-State actor accredited by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe to attend meetings of the Regional Committee.
  • European Commission - EUROCAM is a member of the EU Health Policy Platform of the European Commission.
  • EPHA - EUROCAM is a member of the European Public Health Alliance.
  • EU4Health CSA - EUROCAM is a member of the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance.

Affiliated organisations of EUROCAM

  • European Ayurveda Association – EEAA
  • European Central Council of Homeopaths – ECCH
  • European Committee for Homeopathy – ECH
  • European Council of Doctors for Plurality in Medicine – ECPM
  • European Federation of Homeopathic Patients' Associations – EFHPA
  • European Federation and Forum for Osteopathy – EFFO
  • European Federation of Patients' Organisations for Anthroposophic Medicine – EFPAM
  • European Herbal & Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association – EHTPA
  • European Reiki Group - ERG
  • European Traditional Chinese Medicine Association – ETCMA
  • International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques – ICMART
  • International Federation of Anthroposophic Therapists – IFAT
  • International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations – IVAA

General board

International and European umbrella organisations that are affiliated with EUROCAM constitute the General Board.

Executive Committee

EUROCAM's Executive Committee comprises three members qualified in the fields of health, policy-making, finance and communication.