A Call to Action is being launched this week to seek proper intervention and treatment for the more than 44 million EU citizens who have a longstanding health problem that affects their ability to work. In particular it addresses those with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) which account for more sick days than any other health condition. 
The initiative calls for policy-makers, employers, health professionals, patients and citizens to act in concert to ensure that active participation in both the workplace and society together with quality of life become a reality in the EU27 and beyond.
The move marks the culmination of a groundbreaking study undertaken by The Work Foundation to understand the impact of MSDs on Europe’s workforce and the associated socio-economic consequences. Working with research organisation RAND Europe, and funded by a grant from Abbott, the Fit for Work study examined the different national strategies and approaches across 25 markets and sought to understand the extent of the problem, its impact on sufferers, their families and colleagues and the human and financial costs.
We also explored the different treatment and support received and looked to draw conclusions on best practice.
Inability to work has significant implications not just for the health of Europe’s citizens, but also for the health of its economy.
A healthy workforce means a healthy economy and poor workforce health can be just as much a barrier to growing prosperity as lack of skills, technology and innovation.
Our findings revealed that MSDs account for nearly half (49%) of all absences from work and 60% of permanent work incapacity in the EU.  It calculated the socio-economic consequences of suffering from poor health due to muscle and joint pain as representing an estimated cost of €240 billion to European society. 
Evidence suggests that early detection of, and intervention in, MSDs is a key factor in allowing people with the condition to remain in work.
The study provides us with the beginnings of a potential calculation of an ‘early intervention premium’ which should be considered by Governments and healthcare professionals.  Using this calculation they could deliver reductions in health and disability budgets, improved quality of life for citizens and enhanced performance of employees. 
The Fit for Work report recommends a new and more inclusive method to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of treating illness in general, and MSDs in particular.  It advocates an approach that considers not only the up-front costs of medical expenditure but also incorporates wider socio-economic considerations such as work productivity into the financial and medical evaluations for treatment.  Indications are that such an approach could provide a more holistic and perhaps more realistic assessment of the overall costs and benefits of diagnosis, prevention and treatment.
As Europe looks to emerge from the global recession, I would urge policy-makers to address how labour productivity in businesses is being undermined by MSDs.
They would be well advised to align health and work agendas to promote positive health outcomes, labour market retention and active inclusion.
The Work Foundation is pressing for a Council Recommendation at EU level that will promote national prioritizing and action plans on MSD’s, and provide guidance on early diagnosis, appropriate intervention and effective rehabilitation.

Will Hutton is Executive Vice Chair of The Work Foundation, a UK-based not-for-profit research organisation.  He is a former journalist and editor and frequent me­dia commentator. The Fit for Work Call to Action will be launched at an event in the Eur­opean Parliament on 30 Septe­mber hosted by MEPs Edite Es­trela and Antonyia Parvanova, in the presence of Employment Commissioner Vladimir Špidla, and Belgian vice-Prime Minister Joëlle Milquet,  with the support of the Swedish Presidency of the EU.