EUROPACE AND CARDIOSTIM CONGRESSES TO MERGE

The EHRA (European Heart Rhythm Association) and Cardiostim, which each attract almost 6,000 attendees, will continue to hold their respective congresses in alternating years, but under a new agreement with greater focus on consistency, integration and homogeneity.

The agreement was signed recently by representatives of both congresses, and is to last for six years, from 2012 to 2017 inclusive.  From 2014 a single committee of members from each organisation will develop a joint scientific programme, and the two congresses will aggregate their names.

Each programme will be built around four main themes: electrophysiology and catheter ablation (one important approach to the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias), devices for the management of heart rhythm and heart failure, non-invasive approaches to rhythm disturbances, and basic science. Abstracts selected for inclusion will be published in the Europace-EHRA journal.

Commenting on the agreement, Professor Panos Vardas, President of the EHRA, said: “The EHRA is the indisputable European leader in the management of cardiac arrhythmias and we have entered this agreement with Cardiostim in the belief that together we can create a highly successful congress driven by a common programme committee. We believe that this strategic decision – which took two years of discussion to reach – will be welcomed by the majority of European arrhythmologists”.

Dr Philippe Ritter, Chairman of Cardiostim, said: “This agreement is an historic event for the European electrophysiology community. Highly supported by the industry, this strategic alliance is the continuation of a rapprochement which started in 2006. Respectful of both organisations, it should now allow us to jointly accelerate the development of our congresses, as international congresses open to doctors and scientists from all over the world”.