LONDON — The EULAR 2026 Congress convened in London, featuring presentations and updates from European rheumatology organizations. Discussions covered patient support, employment, and access to care.
Nanna Bacci Hartz presented data on professional counseling services provided by the Danish Rheumatism Association. This service employs a rheumatologist, nurse, occupational therapist, dietary advisor, lawyer, physiotherapists, and social workers. In 2025, the Danish counseling service recorded 5,408 inquiries, with 84 percent received via telephone. The service operates 27 hours per week; women accounted for 80 percent of its contacts. The primary topics addressed included medical issues, employment concerns, and physiotherapy questions.
Research indicated that menopause is not discussed in 93 percent of surveyed responses from individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that affects three times more women than men. In response, the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society in the United Kingdom established a workstream. This initiative aims to develop menopause support resources for women with rheumatoid arthritis, which included publishing an informational booklet for women across various menopause stages. The society also launched an online peer support group for these women and formed the Coalition for Menopause, a steering group comprising healthcare professionals and service users.
The Norwegian Rheumatism Association hosted a meeting for 40 individuals aged 18 to 40 who live with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The meeting focused on identifying employment barriers. Joachim Sagen reported that fluctuating disease activity, fatigue, and limited workplace familiarity with the conditions represent barriers to employment for these individuals. Sagen further identified early intervention, flexible work arrangements, supportive leadership, and increased awareness of workplace rights as factors that facilitate employment retention.
Cyprus implemented a new policy, allowing disease-specific allocations for publicly reimbursed physiotherapy sessions for patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Under this policy, patients with rheumatoid arthritis can qualify for up to 24 reimbursed physiotherapy sessions. Fibromyalgia patients are eligible for 12 sessions, and spondyloarthritis patients can receive up to 42 sessions. Stalo Papamichael said, "This change confirms physiotherapy as a critical pillar of sustainable, person-centred RMD management. The advocacy model can be adapted by patient organizations in other settings to strengthen access and improve health equity within public health systems."
No independent assessment was available for this report.