February marked the launch of EPF’s Vote4Patients campaign, in the lead up to the EU Elections 2024, that will take place between 6-9 June. Why are the European Elections important to patients? MEPs take decisions that affect the daily lives of everyone, a considerable amount covering important healthcare issues that have a direct impact on patient organisations and patients’ lives. The upcoming mandate will be particularly filled with policy dossiers that set out to change the healthcare landscape, such as the revision of the pharmaceutical legislation or the roll out of the European Health Data Space.
EPF believes that this is a key moment to make the governance of healthcare more inclusive, truly democratic, and sustainable. To achieve this, the Vote4Patients campaign aims to ensure that the significant challenges faced by patients are given central attention by candidates and, ultimately, by the European Parliament.
The campaign is guided by the Patient Organisations’ Manifesto, which was first introduced during EPF’s 20th Anniversary event last year. The Manifesto expresses our community’s vision for European patient advocacy and serves as a roadmap for the broader patient movement in Europe.
Key Messages of the Campaign:
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Strengthening Involvement: EPF is dedicated to enhancing the role of patient organisations in shaping healthcare policies at both national and regional levels.
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Ensuring Participation: The campaign highlights the importance of fostering participation grounded in solidarity, equity, mutual trust, sustainability, empowerment, and responsibility.
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Meaningful Participation: EPF emphasises the need for a meaningful and viable involvement of patient organisations, identifying effective channels and mechanisms in collaboration with patients.
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Broadening Horizons: Beyond healthcare, EPF calls for the involvement of patient organisations in other policy areas related to public health and quality of life.
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Inclusive Policy Development: The campaign calls on policy makers to enable patient organisations to participate actively in all stages of policy development, ensuring their voices are heard and considered.
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Institutionalising Participation: EPF calls for the institutionalisation of participatory processes, diversifying opportunities for patient organisations to contribute meaningfully.
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Health Technology Assessment Inclusion: The campaign advocates for the inclusion of patient organisations in health technology assessment and related processes, recognising their unique perspectives.
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Formalised Decision-Making: EPF seeks to formalise patients’ participation in any decision-making body on health and related policies.
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Stable Funding: EPF is committed to ensuring that patient organisations have access to long-term and unrestricted operational funding.
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Key Partnerships: The campaign calls on policymakers to recognise patient organisations as key partners in improving patient education and building capacities and skills.
You can join EPF in shaping the future of healthcare in the European Union by signing our petition.