IAPO calls on World Health Organization (WHO) member states to involve patient groups in health policy development
International Alliance of Patient Organizations -- Press Release
May 1, 2008
Geneva, Switzerland 1 May 2008 - The International Alliance of Patient’s Organizations (IAPO) took the opportunity to call on WHO member states to engage patients in the development of the draft plan of action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. Regina Kamoga of the Community Health and Information Network (CHAIN) and IAPO Board Member, addressed delegates of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) during Wednesday’s plenary session of the resumed second session of the IGWG on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property.
The draft plan of action will set out how WHO and member states will achieve the activities identified in the global strategy on public health, innovation and intellectual property. One of the key aims of the strategy and plan of action, which will be put forward at the World Health Assembly, is to secure an enhanced and sustainable basis for needs-driven, essential health research and development relevant to diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries, proposing clear objectives and priorities for research and development, and estimating funding needs in this area.
IAPO and its members believe that the issues raised in the IGWG discussions are issues of access that need to be addressed broadly with reference to the needs of patients worldwide. The text of the IAPO statement follows:
“My name is Regina Kamoga of the Community Health And Information Network (CHAIN) in Uganda and I serve on the Board of the International Alliance of Patients Organizations, also known as IAPO.
Once again we would like to take the opportunity to reaffirm our support for the work of this group and are pleased to be able to make a contribution to this issue.
The International Alliance of Patients Organizations recognises that the IGWG process aims to improve patients’ lives but we consider that the deliberations at the IGWG meetings and the global strategy and draft plan of action have not engaged patients or patient groups as key stakeholders.
We have asked delegates to ensure that “patients and patients’ organizations are recognised as the main stakeholder in the global strategy and plan of action.
We now again call for all member states to ensure that patient led organizations are engaged as the key stakeholders in the development of the plan of action. Many patients’ organizations around the world are dealing with access issues on a daily basis and there is a need for governments to work more closely with patients’ organizations in this work, to attain better outcomes.
On behalf of the patients we serve, we question any plan of action that lacks consultation with those who will be most affected by its consequences.
Therefore, we strongly encourage all delegates to take action and get in contact with patients and patient groups to explore their needs and concerns and to work with them as implementing partners.
Thank you.”
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Note to Editors:
About IAPO: IAPO is the only global alliance representing patients of all nationalities across all disease areas and promoting patient-centred healthcare worldwide. Our members are patients’ organizations working at the local, national, regional and international levels to represent and support patients, their families and carers. IAPO’s has 200 members which span over 40 countries and 50 disease areas and through membership represents an estimated 365 million patients worldwide.
For further information, please contact:
Mr Jeremiah Mwangi, Senior Policy Officer, IAPO
M: +44 7985 197251 ; Email: jeremiah@patientsorganizations.org
Website: www.patientsorganizations.org
