ECHAMP Membership Assembly in Sofia

ECHAMP members and their guests enjoyed a busy, varied and interesting programme at the annual Membership Assembly in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 24-25 April 2023.

ECHAMP members and their guests enjoyed a busy and interesting programme at the annual Membership Assembly in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 24-25 April 2023.

There were plenty of opportunities for networking and discussion and a most welcome chance to catch up with colleagues in person for the first time in four years.

On the first afternoon, local stakeholders from Bulgaria joined ECHAMP members from around Europe for a two-part symposium. The first part, ‘Homeopathy in Bulgaria: Experience and best practice,’ was chaired by Nonna Petrova of Alpen Pharma. ECHAMP was delighted to welcome guest speakers, Ass. Prof. Vladimirova from National Centre for Public Health and Analysis, and Dr Dora Pochova, Chair of the Association of Homeopathic Physicians in Bulgaria. After a 50-year ban by the communists, the market for homeopathic medicines started to develop in Bulgaria only after 1990. The speakers were able to share this experience with the European audience and highlight some of the particular achievements of that period.

The second part of the afternoon focused on the future of healthcare, opening up a valuable discussion for the industry on the opportunities and challenges of the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. It was a privilege for ECHAMP to welcome Prof. Dr Eran Ben-Ayre, Co-founder and Director, Unit of Complementary and Traditional Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Haifa, Israel. His presentation, ‘Trends in Healthcare: The rising of the integrative agenda,’ drew on his extensive experience in integrative medicine to set the context for the discussion. We were then pleased to welcome a prestigious panel of speakers, including Dr Ton Nicolai, Honorary Secretary-General of EUROCAM, Dr Dora Pachova, Dr Monica Mennet von Eiff, member of the Board of Management of ECHAMP, and Ian Wilders, Director of ExNarrative, for a lively discussion on the role of our industry going forward.

In the evening, participants enjoyed an informative guided walking tour of Sofia, the vibrant capital of Bulgaria, followed by a convivial dinner with local entertainment.

On the second day, the event offered members a chance to learn about the latest EU consultations and developments, as well as ECHAMP’s positions on important issues affecting our sector. These expert briefings were followed by the formalities of the Membership Assembly itself, chaired by Nonna Petrova. The meeting included an update on ECHAMP’s recent activities and future plans and finished with a farewell lunch.

The ECHAMP team is already looking forward to welcoming its members to next year’s Membership Assembly, to be held in Brussels 15-16 April 2024, chaired by Federica Corradi Dell’Acqua of Istituto Di Medicina Omeopatica Spa in Italy.