Patients’ representatives and public health organizations in Europe have highlighted the need for access to high quality patient information while recognizing the important role of patients’ organizations as information providers. These were the key messages at a press conference promoting a new Policy Statement on Patient Information, developed by the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO), on the occasion of the second joint European Public Health Conference held by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA).

“Patient information is essential to Europeans receiving high quality care”, says Jolanta Bilinska, Polish Board Member of IAPO. “Without information we cannot learn what is right and begin to question the things that go wrong”, Bilinska explains, also Chair of the Patient Safety Foundation, Poland. “Common standards for patient information in Germany and Poland make sense. Neighbouring citizens are users of both national health systems.” More than 150,000 Polish workers are estimated to work in Germany annually.

In addition, Ramazan Salman, the Turkish Executive Managing Director of the Ethno-Medical Centre (EMZ), noted that “Close links also exist between Germany and Turkey”. “Language barriers existing in Europe need to be overcome to provide patient information. EMZ provides health information in over 90 languages to migrants living in Germany. “Patients and patients’ organizations in Europe are making medical knowledge more easily accessible today”.

“We support the active participation and involvement of patients in care and information across the WHO
European region”, adds Diana Delnoij, EUPHA. “Mobility in Europe is a challenge to the traditional ways of patient information.” The EUPHA annual conference in Lodz addresses the broader issues of health in Europe. “In times of limited funding for health improvements, health information can lead to savings that are of benefit to the patients”, explains Walter Deville, of Utrecht University. “Staying healthy and getting well are the best outcomes of increased health literacy. Migrants are the largest minority across Europe – they should be enabled to learn more about health systems and patient information is key to this.”

The press conference introduced the German, Polish and Turkish versions of the IAPO Policy Statement on Patient Information. The organizers of the press conference are committed to spreading standards and engaging more organizations to support the initiative across Europe.

IAPO’s Policy Statement on Patient Information was adopted in October 2009 following consultation with IAPO member patients’ organizations and agreement by the Governing Board.

Source: IAPO