ARAM Membership Form 2022-2023
New ARAM Membership Form 2021-2022
New ARAM Membership Form 2021-2022
EUPATI Fundamentals Training partly sponsored by Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS)
Sina Bugeja, Vice President of ARAM (Arthritis and Rheumatism Association Malta) has followed the EUPATI Fundamentals training that was held online over 2 full days due to Covid-19 restrictions. The training was organized by the European Patients’ Training Academy on Therapeutic Innovation which is based in Brussels, Belgium.
The course was a mix of practical and classroom learning guides aimed at professionals focusing on the processes of engaging patients throughout the stages of medicines development providing a strong foundation for successful partnership between the patients and patient organizations and the pharma industry itself. The focus of the course remained basic knowledge about patient involvement with an overall introduction to standards and best practices, and a library of practical exercises. The training also encouraged patients’ organisations representative to ensure that members who are also patients become involved in research, drug trials and lay literature writing. Furthermore, when exposed to such activities, patients will also be empowered to develop a stronger voice and represent themselves in more assertive ways especially with regards to patients’ rights.
The course was subdivided into a number of modules.
Further discussion focused on the pharma sponsorships which are, in actual fact indispensable but do not control in any way the input from patients nor the outcome conclusions. The ethical issue as to whether patients should be compensated for their expertise and time was highlighted and discussed and a clear agreement arrived at. Fair compensation for patients’ and patients’ advocates is imperative. The Quality of Life [QoL] endpoints were defined as the only acceptable terminations using both qualitative and quantitative methods in the research methodology. The training proved to be very interesting and beneficial and was partly sponsored by the Malta Council for Voluntary Organisations.
ARAM congratulates Mrs Sina Bugeja M.Sc.(Wales)
Thanks to the grant from The Small Initiative’s Scheme managed by The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS), our project Keeping Mobile and Pain Free During Covid-19, successfully came to an end. ARAM thanks all participants, service providers, and SIS Fund Managers at MCVS for their kind assistance.
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ARAM in collaboration with The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and associations from Greece, Cyrus, and Spain are taking part in a European research project on osteoarthritis pain. This project focuses mainly on patients’ perspectives and how pain is dealt with. We are happy to present a series of educational webinars, a series where expert discussions on different aspects of ‘Living with osteoarthritis’ are conducted. We encourage patients to watch the entire series of webinars to learn about the holistic approach to improving one’s health and pain management. The topics discussed in this sixth webinar discusses Innovative Technologies in tackling Chronic Pain
ARAM in collaboration with The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and associations from Greece, Cyrus, and Spain are taking part in a European research project on osteoarthritis pain. This project focuses mainly on patients’ perspectives and how pain is dealt with. We are happy to present a series of educational webinars, a series where expert discussions on different aspects of ‘Living with osteoarthritis’ are conducted. We encourage patients to watch the entire series of webinars to learn about the holistic approach to improving one’s health and pain management.
The topics discussed in this fifth webinar include:
Mindfulness technique: a “good life” help to dare to be ourselves
Vasiliki Christodoulou, Lecturer in Psychology, UCLan University, Cyprus, Licensed Psychologist
The role of the Health Visitor in the prevention and management of Osteoarthritis pain through Mind f ullness
Sisi Klitsa, Health Visitor, MSc Clinical and Community Psychology, Trained in EISA Systemic Counseling, Mindfulness instructor
We thank you for joining us at our 15th Annual General Meeting. Our last Annual General Meeting was held on 31st July 2020. This is the second AGM during the Covid-19 pandemic, although last year we managed to meet face to face with great respect to mitigation measures as announced by the Health Authorities at the time. Mrs. Vella informed all present that Mrs. Sina Bugeja, ARAM’s Vice-President will moderate this year’s virtual AGM. Whilst I welcome you to this year’s Annual General Meeting, I start by thanking the Executive Committee Members of ARAM for their ongoing hard work and dedication and for the valuable work each one is doing voluntarily. I am happy to note that all our patient members are very appreciative of our input towards the Association. For us all this year was not an easy year, however, we found alternative ways how to remain in touch with our treasured members. I wish to give you a very brief account of all the activities carried out by ARAM since our last AGM in July 2020. The issue of the change and switching of medicines to patients suffering from any type of Arthritis that occurred at the pharmacy level (without the consultation of one’s specialist). As a patient organization we are working very hard to ensure that the EULAR recommendations are respected and undertaken by the authorities. We are currently in communications with the Ombudsman (Health) to ensure that our patient members will receive the best possible treatment. I take this opportunity to thank ARAM members who shared their personal experiences through printed and social media. We celebrated World Arthritis Day 2020 with a virtual conference on the 21st of October 2020. Thanks to the support offered by Vivian Corporation Malta we managed to organize a very well attended conference. Amongst the distinguished guests who contributed towards the success of the conference, we had The Commissioner for Mental Health, Dr. John M Cachia, Dr. Patrick Galea who talked about E-Health and the importance of telemedicine in the health system. Thereafter, Mr. Sebastian Micallef shared his experience as a patient. He spoke about his personal experience and how he found E-Health useful especially throughout the time of the pandemic. The President, Mrs. Vella proceeded to give a brief account of current tasks being undertaken by the Executive Committee for the year 2021, namely, our applications for funds presented to Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (Emergency Funds and SIS Funds; two research programs with regards to Osteoarthritis, one on a national level and another on a bigger scale on a Pan-European level; the upcoming AGORA conference hosted by ARAM on the occasion of its 10th Anniversary; the launch of two subgroups, one launched today, Young ARAM Group, as well in the coming weeks, the launch of the GOZO ARAM Group; as well as the Transfer of Knowledge Program in conjunction with EULAR and Arthritis Ireland.Mrs Vella once again thanked all for attending this year’s Annual General Meeting and sought approval from members present of the Minutes of last year’s AGM as well as the Financial Report for the year 2020 presented at this AGM.
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