Patients take universal health coverage into their own hands

150 patients’ advocates from 48 countries are meeting in London to discuss how innovation can help achieve universal, patient-centred and sustainable access to healthcare around the world.

Patients’ groups, academics and health organisations will meet at the 7th Global Patients Congress, from 9-11 April, to share innovative best practice, research and to highlight specific examples of how to improve healthcare access across countries and contexts. Topics will include new approaches to community mobilisation, health professional-led innovation in disaster and conflict areas, strengthening health systems and patient involvement in drug development.

The adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals has pushed universal health coverage (UHC) – where all people receive the health services they need, without suffering financial hardship when paying for them – to the front of the health agenda. Every UN member state has agreed to ‘ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all’ by 2030, which gives patients the timescale and the means to hold them to account. Many patients are taking the challenge of universal health coverage into their own hands by sharing new ideas which already improve healthcare in their communities.

Innovative approaches are improving patient experience, choice of treatment options and outcomes across the world. New examples are constantly surfacing: virtual patient communities now provide greater access to information and peer support, crowd-funding helps patients pay for the research they want to see, and social media helps to normalise different conditions and reduce stigma. These developments are changing the face of healthcare. Patients are more informed, more involved, and more engaged in working collaboratively with others to change health systems for good.

Jolanta Bilińska, Chair of the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations, said:

‘History will judge governments against whether universal health coverage is achieved by 2030, but the responsibility lies with everyone involved in healthcare, including patients. Patients have an ethical and moral right to be involved in all decisions about their care, and bring new ideas which can’t be replicated by any other group. Patients are already changing healthcare with innovative approaches. Decision-makers at every level must do everything possible to listen to and embrace the patient voice.’

The International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations will host the 7th Global Patients Congress in London, 9-11 April. Patients and patients’ groups will share further examples of patient-led innovation in healthcare throughout the event. Find out more at www.iapo.org.uk/GPC2016

Live Facebook Feed

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
2 days ago

🦋 #WorldLupusDay is coming to an end!

❤️ Thank you all for the support you have shown throughout this important day in which the whole world has raised awareness of the impact that lupus can potentially have 💥.

🌈 However, we at Lupus Europe believe that there is something very important that we also need to show the world: our vitality, our energy, and our will to enjoy life – including our work.

🌟 Our strong vision in a fulfilling life for all people with lupus in Europe, until we have reached a world without lupus.

😃 We always work hard! We all have lupus, though our amazing Lupus Europe family seems to forget about it when we are at an event, a meeting, or are working for the organisation.

🦋 Lupus is an invisible illness with many faces. Let’s close this day with our hopes, our laughter, and our enthusiasm for life.

🌺 Every day, but especially this # WorldLupusDay, we thank all those who stand by our side and show the best face of the 1000 faces lupus has.
... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago

‼️ It is estimated that about 50% of #SLE patients will suffer from #lupus nephritis, one of SLE's most dangerous & frequent complications.

💊 Routine checkups and available treatments make it possible for 60–70% of patients to achieve complete or partial remission.

#WorldLupusDay
#Lupus100
... See MoreSee Less

‼️ It is estimated that about 50% of #SLE patients will suffer from #lupus nephritis, one of SLEs most dangerous & frequent complications.

💊 Routine checkups and available treatments make it possible for 60–70% of patients to achieve complete or partial remission.

#WorldLupusDay
#Lupus100
2 days ago

🔴 Despite significant improvements in diagnosis delay & treatment strategies, the burden of #SLE remains high.

Learn more on the association between diagnosis delay, disease activity and burden on daily life in patients with #lupus in this study: lupus.bmj.com/content/8/1/e000469

And get to better understand how to live with #lupus thanks to #Lupus100! A website written by doctors and patients to make it possible for people with lupus to have easy-to-understand and high-quality information about lupus!

lupus100.org/en/100-questions#Challenges

Need more? Check out #LupusGPT! lupusgpt.org/

#WorldLupusDay
#Lupus100
... See MoreSee Less

🔴 Despite significant improvements in diagnosis delay & treatment strategies, the burden of #SLE remains high.

Learn more on the association between diagnosis delay, disease activity and burden on daily life in patients with #lupus in this study: https://lupus.bmj.com/content/8/1/e000469

And get to better understand how to live with #lupus thanks to #Lupus100! A website written by doctors and patients to make it possible for people with lupus to have easy-to-understand and high-quality information about lupus!

https://lupus100.org/en/100-questions#Challenges

Need more? Check out #LupusGPT! https://lupusgpt.org/

#WorldLupusDay
#Lupus100
2 days ago

🚨 #lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects nearly 500,000 people in Europe and over 5 million people in the world.

It affects not only patients but also their loved ones.

Do you want to know what the first symptoms of #lupus are?

Visit #Lupus100 and #lupusgpt and find out!

Getting to know the disease is key for an early diagnosis.

lupus100.org/en/questions/what-are-the-first-signs-of-lupus

lupusgpt.org/

#WorldLupusDay
#MakeLupusVisible
... See MoreSee Less

🚨 #Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects nearly 500,000 people in Europe and over 5 million people in the world.

It affects not only patients but also their loved ones.

Do you want to know what the first symptoms of #lupus are?

Visit #Lupus100 and #LupusGPT and find out!

Getting to know the disease is key for an early diagnosis.

https://lupus100.org/en/questions/what-are-the-first-signs-of-lupus

https://lupusgpt.org/

#WorldLupusDay
#MakeLupusVisible
LUPUS EUROPE Uniting people with Lupus throughout Europe
Send