Why HEPMP project?

Pain is probably one of the oldest and most universal forms of stress and one of the
earliest sufferings of humankind.
Pain is the follower of many diseases and conditions: Rheumatoid arthritis, postherpetic
neuralgia, degenerative spine conditions, osteoarthritis, AIDS, migraine,diabetic neuropathy, and phantom pain are examples of chronic pain as well as cancer.
In the economic sphere, it is estimated that the cost to treat patients with chronic
pains exceeds the total cost to treat patients with heart disease, cancer, and AIDS.
Prolonged pain is among the major causes of absence from work, sick leaves, disability
retirement, severance pay, and low productivity. It is a problem of public health for its prevalence, high cost, and negative impact on the quality of life of patients and their families.
Despite the efforts and the fact that it is as old as humanity itself, pain neither has
been completely understood nor can be totally controlled.
Low awareness of the importance of treating pain lies amongst the public and health
care professionals.
Number of doctors trained for pain medicine is insufficient.
We need to improve knowledge about pain and raise awareness, both professionals
– healthcare workers, and society, about the significance of this problem.

HEPMP aims

Strengthening Capacities for Higher Education of Pain Medicine in Western Balkan
Countries
Development of Pain medicine service provision in the country by providing qualified trained staff.
Support will be granted to operationalize the recently established educational pro-
gram in the form of pain medicine specialization and the possibility of the develop-
ment of undergraduate education programs.
Establish an academic network and improve professional cooperation through opportunities provided by new technologies (Internet, telemedicine, etc.)

Assist in the analysis of the current situation in this area in Western Balkan Countries.
Defining the possible changes that would improve or introducing curriculum of pain
medicine in the undergraduate and postgraduate education.
Training of trainers from Western Balkan Countries in the European Union countries.

To modernize the existing curriculum of pain medicine specialization. Coordinate
the existing postgraduate education curriculum in the field of pain medicine with
European Pain Federation (EFIC) curriculum.
To develop a module lectures for undergraduate studies of pain medicine.
To develop a web platform for mutual learning and communication for health care
professionals who deal with pain medicine.
To organize courses of pain medicine for doctors in primary health care.
Develop written material for Life Long Learning -LLL (books, brochures, scripts, leaf-
lets, digital material etc).
Establish an academic network of health care professionals and universities in the
field of pain medicine.