International Alliance of Patient's Organizations - April Update

Welcome to our April update, with news of the new Congress Organizing Committee, our Patient Involvement work, new members and member activities.

IMPORTANT NEWS
Organizing Committee for 2006 Global Patients Congress is announced
IAPO is delighted to announce a new and larger Organizing Committee for the 2nd Global Patients Congress, 22-24 February 2006 in Barcelona, Spain. The Committee consists of 18 representatives of IAPO's Full and Associate Members to ensure the Congress is driven "by members, for members". The Committee will work with a Multi-stakeholder Advisory Team, the Governing Board and staff to develop a Programme that builds on the great success of the 1st Congress in London earlier this year. More...

IAPO Policy Statement & Guidelines on Patient Involvement
IAPO has been gathering input from its members all over the world in the development of a policy statement and guidelines for patient involvement in health policy, systems and delivery. Their comments and ideas have been encouraging and invaluable in shaping a statement and guidelines that are truly reflective of the opinion of IAPO's members and we hope will useful to all stakeholders worldwide. Both the statement and guidelines will be published soon. More...

IAPO to participate in WHO project on Chronic Diseases
The WHO is developing a global report Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment. IAPO has been invited to participate in the development of this work. A key focus of this publication will be making the case for governments to take urgent action to reduce chronic disease risks and burden. More...

WHO Self-Management Programme Directory
Information about self-management programmes is sought for possible inclusion in a new 'self-management' programme directory. The WHO's Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion is developing a 'self-management' programme directory that aims to provide an index and standardized description of self-management programmes around the world. More...

MEMBERSHIP NEWS
Canadian-based Consumer Advocare Network joins IAPO
Consumer Advocare Network brings together Canadian patients' organizations for the purpose of promoting patient participation in healthcare policy. One stimulus for the organization was the lack of patient involvement on key healthcare policy initiatives, as demonstrated by the tainted blood scandals of the 1980's, whereby thousands of patients were infected with HIV and hepatitis C. Patients were not part of the decision-making nor were they informed about the risk of infection at the time. A collaboration of groups whose members relied upon the blood supply participated with the government in the reform of the blood system leading to the creation of a new independent agency in which patients had significant roles throughout, including two patient seats on the Board of Directors. More...

UK group Epilepsy H.E.R.E joins IAPO as a Full Member
Epilepsy H.E.R.E (Help, Education and Research for Epilepsy) is a UK charity aiming to advance the education of the public within the area of East Kent (South East England) on all matters relating to epilepsy and related neurological conditions. It also works to relieve those persons who have epilepsy and their families and carers, so that their condition of life may be improved. The charity has no paid staff and the work is done on a totally voluntary basis. More...

International Union Against Cancer (UICC) organize the 13th Reach to Recovery Breast Cancer Support conference in Athens
One of IAPO's newest Associate Members, UICC, is working with the Hellenic Association of Women and the Society of Volunteers Against Cancer to stage this event for newly-diagnosed women with breast cancer, long-term survivors, volunteers, service providers, healthcare professionals and others. More...

'Bridge at the Crossroads' is the theme for Alzheimer's Disease International's 21st International Conference
ADI has chosen Istanbul in Turkey as the location for their 21st International Conference later this year. The annual event is this year being co-organized with the Alzheimer Society of Turkey and takes place on 28 September-1 October 2005. More...

EVENTS IN APRIL
Implementing the European Charter of Patients' Rights
The Irish Patients' Association (IPA), an IAPO member, held a conference to present the results of a multidisciplinary academic research project on the relevance of the European Charter of Patients' Rights for Ireland. IAPO's Policy & External Affairs Director, Jo Harkness joined healthcare and government representatives at the event, held in Dublin on 18 April 2005. More...

IAPO's Chair attends World Health Care Congress - Europe
Albert van der Zeijden, IAPO's Chair, attended the World Health Care Congress - Europe, held in France on 7-8 April. He spoke about establishing pricing strategies that balance innovation and access" during a session on health care innovation. For further information and to view the presentation slides click here.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN MAY
13th International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals, 18-20 May 2005, Dublin, Ireland
IAPO is a co-organizer of this conference and is represented by Albert van der Zeijden on the Scientific Committee. The theme of the 13th Conference is Empowering for Health; Practicing the Principles and it will focus on the questions: How can hospitals use empowerment to improve patients' health?; How can empowerment contribute to improve the hospital's impact on staff health?; How can hospitals empower specific vulnerable groups like the elderly, migrants and ethnic minorities, and persons with mental health problems?; How can financial regulations and quality criteria be adapted to "empower hospitals for empowerment"?. More...

Patient Involvement, Empowerment, Information 2005 Conference, 24-25 May 2005, London, United Kingdom
IAPO's Chair, Albert van der Zeijden, will attend this conference to speak about international developments in patient involvement. The Conference will examine the core components of patient-centred healthcare bringing together case studies and presentations to examine key developments of patient involvement and empowerment including patient survey design and implementation, developing high quality patient information, patient and public involvement forums and recruiting patients from hard to reach groups. Speakers include Chief Executive of the Picker Institute, Angela Coulter; and Chair of the National Patient Safety Agency, Lord Hunt. More...

Finally, IAPO will also be present in Geneva, Switzerland, in and around the time of the upcoming 58th World Health Assembly, 16-25 May 2005, including meeting with our colleagues from the International Council of Nurses, International Pharmaceutical Federation and World Medical Association (www.whpa.org).