Rhinology in the forefront of European political attention

On Oct. 14, 2015, a symposium on Precision Medicine in Allergy and Airways Diseases took place in the European Parliament in Brussels. The burden of disease in patients with rhinitis and rhinosinusitis was brought to the attention of European policy makers and different stakeholders involved in patient care, highlighting the high prevalence of allergic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis reaching epidemic proportions, the major socio-economic consequences and the impact uncontrolled disease despite evidence-based treatment. The Commissioner of Health and Food Safety of Europa, Vytenis Andriukaitis, as well as the presidents of large European Academies and Associations agreed upon the fact that a joint action plan is needed to arrest the epidemic of allergy and chronic airways diseases in Europe via joining forces between patient organizations, health care professionals and researchers.