EUPATI warmly congratulates the European Patients’ Forum (EPF) on a highly success of the EPF Congress 2025. This year’s congress once again demonstrated EPF’s leadership in patient advocacy and its strong commitment to advancing meaningful participation of patient organisations across Europe.
The comprehensive and thought-provoking programme showcased the critical role of patients in healthcare systems, policymaking, and research. Through a wide range of sessions, the congress highlighted how patient involvement strengthens outcomes, improves equity, and supports more resilient healthcare systems.
EUPATI was proud to contribute to the congress through a workshop focused on Equity, Solidarity and Access to Clinical Studies in Cross-Border Crisis Situations. The session addressed key challenges, including insufficient outreach, unequal access to clinical trials, and the continued exclusion of patients from decision-making processes.
Reinforcing the core objectives of the multi-stakeholder initiative IHI READI, Maria Dutarte shared insights into the vital role patients and patient organisations play in empowering communities with the knowledge needed to engage in clinical research. Crucially, this engagement extends beyond participation as study subjects to meaningful involvement as co-creators and co-designers of research.
A central message throughout the congress was clear: including patients drives both inclusiveness and representativeness in healthcare and research.
One of the standout moments of the event was the active involvement of the EPF Youth Group. Their energy, insight, and commitment served as a powerful reminder of the importance of nurturing the next generation of patient advocates to ensure sustainable and future-proof advocacy.
The key takeaway from the EPF Congress 2025 was unequivocal: patient organisations are essential to shaping the future and resilience of healthcare. They must be involved from the earliest stages and recognised as equal partners alongside all stakeholders.
Including the patient voice in healthcare systems is not only the right thing to do—it is smart, effective design.
The congress also provided a valuable opportunity to reconnect with EUPATI Fellows who continue to champion patient advocacy across Europe, including Lisbeth Oxholm Snede, Marko Korenjak, Andreas Christodoulou, Marta Bragagnolo, Sheila Khawaja, Agron Bytyqi, Jane Giudice, and Milan Mishkovikj.
EUPATI looks forward to continuing its collaboration with EPF and the wider patient community to strengthen patient-centred healthcare and research across Europe.
Date posted: December 15, 2025
Categories: Uncategorized
