On 29th March 2007 a 1 hour and 10 minute debate
in Stortinget (Norwegian Parliament) took place about ME and
discussed what should be done about the situation which is estimated to
affect 10,000 Norwegians. The Minister of Health made promises for
future support, and this includes provision of funding for services,
research and education. The minister has requested that people with ME
and the ME support groups should be involved in every aspect of this.
Now Norway, a European state, has finally accepted the need for proper education, funding and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis and also accepted that the knowledge, experiences and views of patients need to be recognised and respected.
This itself has also generated a great
deal of
media interest in the subject in Norway.
The question now is how long before another European country accepts this same viewpoint and instigates similar actions - actions which ME support groups, people with ME and researchers of ME have known is necessary for far too long.
Here is a lesson for the UK
organisations and offices - the Chief Medical Officer, the Medical
Research Council and the Department of Health.
Norway has shown the way. Let the dominoes fall.
