european migraine and headache alliance

What european migraine and headache alliance does

The European Migraine & Headache Alliance (EMHA) is a Brussels-headquartered, Belgium-domiciled non-profit patient umbrella organization founded in 2006. It represents 40 European patient associations and 23 International Associates covering migraine, cluster headache, trigeminal neuralgia, and other headache diseases, advocating for approximately 138 million people in Europe living with headache disorders and 41 million in the EU affected by migraine. EMHA's portfolio includes the Migraine Friendly Workplace certification program, MAPgraine (an interactive European map of migraine treatment access across 12 countries), the Migraine Scoring System, an Interactive Migraine Centers Map, and research initiatives such as the 2025 hormonal migraine survey covering 5,410 women across 13 countries. Policy outputs include the EMHA White Paper and the European Roadmap for Migraine, both targeted at embedding migraine in the EU Neurological Health Strategy.

EMHA generates revenue primarily through unrestricted educational grants from pharmaceutical companies (AbbVie, Lundbeck, Pfizer, Teva are explicitly named), EU-funded project participation (MOVEMI 2026, Hospital@Home 2026), member association contributions, and corporate partnerships under the Migraine Friendly Workplace program (BBVA is a cited partner). Services to patients are free; the organization does not charge membership dues for patients. Operating geographies span 24+ European countries, with growing international reach via the newly launched International Migraine and Headache Alliance (IMHA). The underlying technology stack is conventional: a content website (emhalliance.org), Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and Mailchimp, supplemented by interactive tools (scoring system, maps) and participation in consortium-led EU digital health projects. EMHA is governed by its member associations, led by Executive Director Elena Ruiz de la Torre, and holds active institutional memberships in EFNA, EPF, IAPO, EHF, EBC, IHS, and EAN.

Name

european migraine and headache alliance

Legal name

European Migraine & Headache Alliance

Website

https://emhalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The European Migraine & Headache Alliance is a Brussels-based non-profit umbrella organization founded in 2006 that unites 40 European and 23 international patient associations to advocate for migraine and headache patients across Europe, delivering policy advocacy, workplace programs, and research initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Headache & Migraine Medicine (HLAKAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAJ)

Keywords

• Patient advocacy services
• Headache disorder support
• Migraine awareness campaigns
• Non-profit health alliance
• Workplace wellness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Industry Grants and Sponsorship: EMHA operates as a non-profit organization funded through unrestricted educational grants from pharmaceutical companies. The organization receives support from companies including AbbVie, Lundbeck, Pfizer, Teva, and others for specific projects and initiatives such as the stigma survey.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

European Migraine & Headache Alliance (EMHA) is a non-profit patient umbrella organization that connects and supports 40 European headache patient associations and 23 international associates to advocate for people living with migraine and headache disorders. It delivers workplace inclusion programs (Migraine Friendly Workplace), interactive research and policy tools (MAPgraine access map, Migraine Scoring System, Interactive Migraine Centers Map), awareness campaigns, EU-funded projects, and policy advocacy at EU and national levels to improve diagnosis, treatment access, and reduce stigma.

Product overview

The European Migraine & Headache Alliance (EMHA) is a non-profit patient umbrella organization that operates as a coalition of advocacy programs and policy initiatives rather than a traditional technology product company. The organization's portfolio includes: the Migraine Friendly Workplace program providing workplace inclusion resources; MAPgraine, an interactive European map of migraine treatment access; the Migraine Scoring System for standardized assessment; an Interactive Migraine Centers Map connecting patients with specialized care; research initiatives like The Invisible Hormonal Pattern in Women survey; and policy documents including the EMHA White Paper and European Roadmap for Migraine. EMHA also participates in EU-funded projects such as MOVEMI (physical activity promotion) and Hospital@Home 2026 (digital health). These programs are interconnected advocacy and awareness tools designed to serve patients, healthcare professionals, and policymakers across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Migraine Friendly Workplace: A certification and support program helping companies create inclusive environments for employees with migraine.
• The Migraine Scoring System
• MAPgraine
• MHIPAS
• IMHA

Products and services

• Migraine Friendly Workplace A workplace inclusion and recognition program that helps employers create migraine-friendly environments. It provides free guides for employers and employees, a private members area with exclusive videos and webinars by neurologists, and recognition as a Migraine Friendly Workplace. Targeted at HR, occupational health, and DEI teams in companies.
• MAPgraine (European Map of Access to Migraine Treatments) An interactive policy and research tool highlighting differences in access, availability, and affordability of migraine treatments across 12 European countries. Features prescription accessibility, innovation availability, and treatment cost level indicators, with downloadable data and reports. Used by policymakers, patient associations, and researchers to identify gaps in treatment access.
• EMHA Migraine Scoring System A standardized scoring tool designed by Europe's leading migraine specialists to help patients, physicians, and society better understand and communicate about migraine. Used by patients and clinicians to assess migraine impact consistently.
• Interactive Migraine Centers Map An interactive directory connecting patients with specialized neurology clinics and headache centers across Europe, providing key informational resources for migraine management. Users can suggest additional centers for inclusion.
• The Invisible Hormonal Pattern in Women A research and awareness project exploring how hormonal life stages — menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause — shape migraine in women and the gaps in awareness, diagnosis, and care. In 2025 it launched the largest European survey on hormonal migraine, screening 5,410 women across 13 countries. Targeted at women with migraine, clinicians, and women's health advocates.
• MOVEMI A European-funded project promoting physical activity as a key tool for migraine prevention and mental health improvement, with a focus on inclusion and women's health. It brings together municipalities, healthcare professionals, patient organisations, academic institutions, and communication experts.
• Hospital@Home 2026 A European initiative bringing hospital-level care directly to patients' homes using intelligent digital technologies, AI-enabled decision support, and patient-centered care models to transform how chronic and complex conditions are diagnosed, monitored, and treated.

Quantifiable outcome

• Survey of 4,210 respondents across 17 European countries on migraine stigma
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• European Federation of Neurological Alliances (EFNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMHA is an active member of EFNA, collaborating on brain health advocacy and policy initiatives at the European level.
• European Patients Forum (EPF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMHA has been a full member of EPF since 2011, contributing to making EPF the leading voice of patient organisations in Europe.
• International Association of Patient Organizations (IAPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMHA is an active member of IAPO, participating in global patient advocacy initiatives.
• European Headache Federation (EHF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMHA works closely with EHF on headache policy and treatment access initiatives.
• European Brain Council (EBC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMHA collaborates with EBC on brain health policy and research advocacy efforts.
• International Headache Society (IHS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMHA works closely with IHS on scientific and clinical aspects of migraine care.
• The Migraine TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMHA collaborated with The Migraine Trust on the 2023 stigma survey capturing experiences of over 4,000 individuals across Europe. The Migraine Trust organized MTIS 2022 event where EMHA participated.
• Gamian EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMHA presented joint study on Migraine and Mental Health in Women with Gamian Europe in September 2023.
• BBVAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEMHA co-hosted a workplace wellness conference with BBVA featuring Prof. Peter Goadsby on migraine management and latest treatments.
• European Parliament Migraine AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of MEPs advocating to make migraine a European priority, working with EMHA and its 36 members at national level to steer policies and initiatives.
• European Academy of Neurology (EAN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMHA participates in EAN Congress and Brain Health Mission initiative to improve brain health globally.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Migraine Trust: UK-based migraine charity running patient support, research funding, and the Migraine Trust International Symposium. Highly comparable as a migraine-focused patient advocacy organization; EMHA even partnered with them on the 2023 stigma survey.
• American Migraine Foundation: US patient advocacy and education organization for migraine disease. Directly comparable mission (awareness, education, research advocacy) and similar pharma-funded non-profit model; functions as EMHA's North American counterpart.
• National Headache Foundation: US-based patient advocacy organization for headache disorders including migraine and cluster headache. Comparable as a long-standing national patient umbrella with awareness, education and healthcare-provider engagement programs.
• Migraine Association of Ireland: Irish national patient organization for migraine. Comparable as a national-level migraine patient association that operates as part of EMHA's wider European network and shares similar advocacy and awareness mandates.
• Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy: US-based coalition advocating for headache disorders at federal policy level. Comparable as a policy-focused umbrella for headache patient organizations with similar advocacy and legislative engagement approach.
• Clusterbusters: US patient advocacy organization dedicated specifically to cluster headache, one of the headache disease subtypes represented in EMHA's member network. Comparable patient-led, awareness-and-research non-profit model.

Broad incumbents

• European Headache Federation (EHF): European scientific and clinical society for headache specialists. Functions as a close institutional partner of EMHA but with a clinician/researcher rather than patient mandate; overlapping policy and treatment-access advocacy goals make it a comparable stakeholder.
• International Headache Society (IHS): Global scientific society for headache research and classification. EMHA works closely with IHS on scientific and clinical aspects; comparable as a multi-stakeholder headache organization but with a professional rather than patient-led governance.
• European Federation of Neurological Alliances (EFNA): Umbrella for European neurological patient organizations across all neurological conditions. EMHA is an active member; comparable as a multi-disease European patient advocacy coalition with overlapping EU policy engagement.

Regional players

• Migraine & Headache Australia: Australian patient advocacy organization for migraine and headache disorders. Comparable mission and non-profit patient-advocacy model but serving the Australia/NZ region rather than competing directly with EMHA in Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EMHAlliance
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCB-iqdMOxwNz5MXkVPuA1Ow
• Facebookfacebook.com/EMHAlliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eha-european-headache-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/emhalliance

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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