Enhancing the patients’ voice in the Adriatic
On Monday, June 19, 2023, Pfizer Adriatic hosted its first digital Patient Advocacy Groups (PAG) Academy, named “Strengthening the Voice of the Adriatic.” The PAG Academy gathered input from various Southeast European countries, with lecturers and participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia.
The event provided a cross-border platform to exchange opinions and experiences in different advocacy areas, share best practices and know-how among patient advocacy groups in Southeast Europe.
The speakers presented successful initiatives such as PR campaigns, involvement in projects that make a difference and EU fond projects utilization. Also, they shared their knowledge about the proper internal setup for patient advocacy groups.
The Patient Advocacy Groups Academy provided an opportunity to discuss numerous topics such as the patient’s role in early diagnosis, their ability to influence national policies, or how the empowerment of the patient’s voice can contribute to their visibility in the healthcare system. The common goal: bridge the gap between patient groups, healthcare providers and stakeholders in the most proficient way to achieve a healthy and dignified life for everyone.
What exactly do we want? What can we do to achieve it? How will it happen? Setting up the goals is an important step for patient advocacy groups if they want to be successful. This was just one of many important realizations at the PAG Academy.
Participants of the PAG Academy emphasized the importance of a unified patient voice in achieving the most advanced treatment options in a timely manner, thereby improving patients’ quality of life.
