Recently acquired is the law that officially recognizes that chronic headache becomes a disabling disease. It was approved in the Senate on July 8, 2020 with 235 votes in favor and only 2 against. Finally, therefore, the law n. 81 of 14 July 2020recognized the chronic headache, in all respects, as a disabling disease. The same will be in force since August 12, 2020.
Chronic headache becomes a disabling disease. Excursus of the law
The legal battle aimed at recognizing headache come disease invalidating dates back to 2003. In that year the associations of the sector drafted the Charter of Patient Rights cefalagico. Then, 10 years later, the President of the neurological association for the study of headaches, presented in the Senate a text entitled “Manifesto of the rights of the person with headache”. Hence, a slow progressive affirmation of chronic headache as a disabling disease. The newly drafted law text, n. 81/2020, states that, for the purposes of disability, it detects chronic primary headache, ascertained for at least 1 year.
The relative diagnosis must be made by a specialist in the sector at an accredited center for the diagnosis and treatment of headaches. The same must attest to the invalidating effect of the disease which, in this case, is recognized as a social disease. All this, if it manifests itself, in the following forms: – chronic and high frequency migraine; – chronic daily headache with or without excessive use of analgesic drugs; – chronic cluster headache; – chronic paroxysmal migraine; – short-term unilateral neuralgiform headache with eye redness and tearing; – migraine continues. For the implementation of the law, within 180 days from the entry into force of the law the Minister of Health must adopt a decree. This will be adopted following the consultation of the Permanent Conference of State Regions. Furthermore, it will have to identify specific projects for taking charge of people with headache.
On the medical front
On the medical front, the encouraging fact is that the specific drug for headache is about to be marketed, even for insidious cases. In fact, by July it will be available to be paid by the National Health Service. It is precisely a drug for the prevention of episodic and chronic migraine. It will be administered monthly with high efficacy and rapid response. It will act where previous medicines have failed, that is, even on the most difficult cases.
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