Working Together to Raise the Patient Voice in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia

"The people have the right and duty to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their healthcare." Alma Ata Declaration – Principle IV (1978, WHO) Is this a reality in Asia Pacific? Are those most affected by healthcare decisions involved in taking them? If not, how can we improve collaboration between all stakeholders to ensure access to quality healthcare that meets the needs of patients?

To address these questions and debate solutions the International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO) will hold a series of meetings and events in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), including a multi-stakeholder seminar, to promote discussion and collaboration between patient groups, health officials, policy-makers and health professionals among others. IAPO is pleased to also have the local support of the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO).

On the 13 and 14 October the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) will join IAPO and a large group of strong patient advocacy groups from across Asia-Pacific at a one and a half day patient group workshop entitled 'Partnership and collaboration: working together to raise the patient voice in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions'. The workshop participants will include representatives from IAPO's member organizations in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions. In addition, non-member patient groups in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia will also attend.

On the afternoon of 13 October, the Assistant Secretary of State for Health in the Philippines Dr Paulyn Jean B Rosell-Ubial and Leonila M. Ocampo, RPh, MS, President of the Philippine Pharmacists Association, Inc will speak, alongside other stakeholders, during IAPO's multi-stakeholder seminar entitled 'Building cross-sector partnerships to meet patients' needs in Asia-Pacific'. The seminar will bring together key healthcare stakeholders from the Philippines as well as regional and international participants to debate and discuss patient-centred healthcare and patient involvement.

Long standing CoMO member representative for the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination Professor Lulu Bravo will be represent CoMO at these workshops. Professor Bravo is the Professor of Pediatric Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the University of the Philippines Manila and also Vice Chancellor for Research and Executive Director at the National Institutes of Health.

During the meeting participants will explore the current status of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and patient safety globally, discuss the outcomes and relevance of global initiatives such as the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on NCDs for patients in Asia-Pacific and share ideas to ensure patient safety. The aim is to consider how all stakeholders can work in cross-sector partnerships towards patient-centred healthcare. The seminar will be followed by a reception which will enable delegates to continue to discuss the issues in the regions and forge new cross-sector relationships.