From 5 to 9 August, the RAI will welcome thousands of international pain experts to attend the IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain in Amsterdam. Unique to this edition is the offering of (free) activities for Amsterdam residents: for people with pain, their loved ones, and other interested parties. This edition of the congress, which features two Nobel Prize winners, Ardem Patapoutian and David Julius, as speakers, promotes the exchange and collaboration among thousands of researchers, doctors, healthcare providers, and policymakers worldwide from various pain disciplines. The programme for residents includes dance workshops in Vondelpark, art tours in the Rijksmuseum, and comedy shows at Boom Chicago. These activities aim to raise awareness about pain and pain management in an accessible and positive way for the general public.
Positive impact for residentsIn support of the IASP, a Local Advisory Committee (LAC) has been established for the World Congress on Pain. The Amsterdam Convention Bureau (ACB) has asked them to collaborate - in line with IASP’s mission ‘together to alleviate pain’, to bring the knowledge from the congress to the residents of Amsterdam. This ensures that not only the hospitality industry, hotels, and congress visitors (researchers and healthcare professionals) benefit from the IASP congress, but also the residents experience a positive impact. In collaboration with the Pain Alliance in the Netherlands (PAiN) and with the support of amsterdam&partners, they have developed free activities for Amsterdam residents to discuss pain and pain management in a low-threshold and positive manner. This has resulted in the PA!N IMPACT 2024 Programme. The programme offers four unique components with themes such as movement, laughter, art, and science.
50th anniversary of IASP
Since 2016, the ACB and the RAI have been working towards bringing the IASP to Amsterdam, and this congress is coming to the city especially for their 50th anniversary. For the ACB, it is of great importance to bring topics such as pain research and pain management to the city, given their relevance and impact on society. Together with the RAI, the ACB has actively pitched to bring this congress here, as it fits within Amsterdam’s focus on innovation, health, and well-being.
Quick facts: Amsterdam residents with pain
• 1 in 5 Amsterdam residents suffers from chronic pain
• Pain is the #1 reason for visiting the doctor
• 30% of people with pain experience it for more than 2 years
• The societal costs of pain in the Netherlands amount to an annual total of 20 billion euros, higher than for cancer, diabetes, or heart diseases
• Pain is often invisible, leading to stigma for those who suffer from it
Source: Pain Alliance in the Netherlands