Dear Bone and Joint Decade Friends,

In a few years we will be reaching the end of the Bone and Joint Decade. But this of course does not in any way imply that at that time musculoskeletal disorders will be less important on the global and national health and research agenda.

The International Steering Committee has at two subsequent network meetings presented a discussion draft with the intention to continue with a global BJD Forum. This should be based on the existing National Networks but it has been suggested that regional councils should be formed to influence the local priorities in the different regions and to be a collective part of knowledge exchange on the global level.

The BJD has always acted as a catalyst for change and we will continue to do so as a forum where patient and the medical musculoskeletal organisations meet to set the broader agenda.
 
Part of creating the will for change is setting the landscape. The BJD has done this by measuring the burden of disease and demonstrating both the individual suffering and the cost for the society. This opens the path for new strategies for improving the standard of care, and for new treatment modalities based on major research progress which can prevent, sometimes cure, and very often improve, the quality of daily life.
 
I do understand that sometimes in our struggle to advance musculoskeletal issues, we have the feeling that we are moving two steps forwards and then one step back again. But seen over a longer time period, since 2000 when we started, you have really made progress.
 
Some examples:

1. In a number of countries musculoskeletal health has become a priority area.
   
   

2. Musculoskeletal Science (MUSC) is in many research councils a separate entity for grants.New successful MUSC university departments, programmes, and collaborations are being formed.Rare diseases groups are now better organized, leading to more focus and increased research.
   
   

3. The costs of illness are slowly being reflected in improved allocation of resources.
   
   

4. Not only road traffic injury prevention but also the standard of care for trauma is gaining UN and WHO attention but needs further groundwork.
   

Early on in our years we decided to hold the BJD World Network Conferences in different parts of the world.

This time it is with great pleasure we accepted the Indian network lead by Dr Arvind Chopra as our host. The Bhigwan COPCORD programme acts as an example of how epidemiological studies can be carried out in a low-income or rural setting and has led to similar studies in a number of countries around the world. We will have the opportunity to learn and observe from its initiator Dr Chopra.

We have again a patient advocacy meeting directly preceding the NAN meeting, but also a training camp for young people with juvenile chronic arthritis led by Mr Ben Horgan from Australia.
 
I thank the local organisers, the ISC and the BJD staff for all the work you put in.
 
Let’s cross over traditional borders and continue to be the movers and shakers.
 

Professor Lars Lidgren,

Chairman,

International Steering Committee

Bone and Joint Decade