SECOND GENEVA CONFERENCE ON PERSON-CENTERED MEDICINE ABSTRACTS SESSION 1 International Organization Perspectives and Activities on Person-centered Medicine

Patients’, families ’ and carers ’ priorities are different in every country and in every disease area, but from this diversity there are some common needs. Health systems in all world regions are under pressure and cannot cope if they continue to focus on diseases rather than patients; they require the involvement of individual patients who adhere to their treatments, make behavioural changes and self-manage. The International Alliance of Patients ’ Organizations (IAPO) supports and encourages the role of patients ’ organizations in promoting patient-centred healthcare as an appropriate way to improve health outcomes for patients2. Engaging patients and the organizations that represent them – patients ’ organizations- in health policy decision-making helps to ensure that policies reflect patient and caregiver needs, preferences and capabilities and provide the most appropriate healthcare. IAPO’s origins stem from the realisation that patients ’ organizations all face some common healthcare issues, regardless of their countries of origin and disease area. In the global context issues of access to treatment, patient safety, patient involvement in health policy, health communication and information are key to patient-centred healthcare. This presentation will demonstrate how a person-centred approach compliments IAPO’s vision of patient-centred healthcare as outlined in IAPO’s Declaration for Patient-Centred Healthcare and the five principles essential for patient-centred healthcare, which resonate with patients