Review of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2024 Congress

EULAR 2024EULAR is a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to reducing the impact of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) across Europe, representing patients, health professionals, rheumatologists, researchers, and scientific societies.The Congress is renowned for its high scientific standards, serving as a platform for sharing advancements in rheumatology and fostering collaboration among experts.This year's Congress aimed to unite medical professionals, people living with RMDs, health professionals in rheumatology, paediatric rheumatologists, and industry partners.This alliance strives to improve the lives of those affected through innovation, education, and collaboration.EULAR President David Aletaha conducted the opening ceremony, showcasing the organisation's core values of patientcentredness, innovation, responsibility, flexibility, inclusivity, and dedication.In an exciting announcement, Aletaha and EULAR President-Elect Xenofon Baraliakos introduced the new 2024-2029 EULAR manifesto focusing on improving care quality, advocating for better social policies, and advancing RMD research and innovation.Key goals include better prevention, timely specialist access, and the integration of digital health technologies.Loreto Carmona, Past-Chair of the EULAR Advocacy Committee, started with explaining the patient-centredness objective of the manifesto.She explained that one in five Europeans are affected by RMDs, and called for greater awareness and action from policymakers and the public.RMDs are a significant reason for patients to seek out medical consultations; however, their impact on health systems and economies remains under recognised.The manifesto calls for collective efforts from rheumatologists, healthcare professionals, and patients with RMD to address these issues.Other key focus areas in the manifesto are improving quality of care, social policies, and research and innovation.Uta Kiltz, Chair of the EULAR Quality of Care Committee, highlighted the importance of prioritising RMDs in the European Union (EU) non-communicable diseases initiative, placing an emphasis on the importance of early diagnosis, prevention, and cost-effective patientcentric treatment models.Elsa Mateus, EULAR PARE Vice President, called for the recognition of RMDs as a leading cause of