The congress' programme

Introduction from Zoltan Aszalos and Mair Elliott (Masters of Ceremonies) Welcoming address
• Marco Greco, EPF President
Welcome from the European Commission
• High-level European Commission representative
Keynote: Why patient involvement? Presenting the evidence • Cees Smit, patient representative

Keynote talk by an inspirational patient leader (TBC)
Followed by panel discussion: “Different perspectives – one vision”
• Hans Kluge, WHO
• JC Tellier, President, EFPIA
• Member of European Parliament
• Cees Smit, patient representative
• Elena Petelos, European Forum for Primary Care • Alf Collins, Clinical Director at NHS England
Interactive discussion with the audience

Keynote speech (Prof Jan de Maeseneer)
The speech will be followed by panel discussion to bring in different perspectives, including an NGO working with under-represented groups, a patient organisation (and other relevant).
• Participants to be confirmed
Introduction to the parallel working sessions
• Congress moderator

Patient involvement is needed to pinpoint the “added therapeutic value” of new technologies and treatments. In this session, we look at experiences from health technology assessment, and other, fields to show the potential of patient involvement in contributing to accurate assessment of value, including value for money, for healthcare interventions. This can support health systems’ sustainability and help reduce wasteful spending. Gaps and divergences in current practice will be explored.

Health systems’ performance can be assessed by evaluating to what extent they deliver the outcomes and experiences that matter most to patients. This session takes a health systems perspective based on EPF’s work with patients on defining “quality” healthcare, and links to current initiatives on developing patient-centred healthcare quality indicators together with patients.

Patients are increasingly becoming not only research subjects but also co-researchers, and even drivers of research. Research with patients, driven by patients’ real-life unmet needs and priorities, can deliver high-value, sustainable solutions. This session will explore the opportunities of doing research “with” as well as “for” patients, looking at innovative examples from therapeutic research and development, but also at a wider context of health and the setting of research priorities together with patients. The session is developed in collaboration with BMJ.

This session will look at inspiring and educational case studies, exploring the process, principles, benefits and pitfalls of co-designing a healthcare service local with those who use it. You will have an opportunity to learn from the perspective of the patients and healthcare users, as well as professionals and healthcare managers.

This session will explore how patient involvement can be embedded in digital health as a driver for change, towards harnessing digital technologies for the benefit of patients and society. Digitalisation in healthcare has potential to transform care into a much more participatory process. Tools should start from the needs of healthcare users and be developed with the users, to ensure technology actually facilitates participatory, person-centred healthcare and leads to better outcomes for patients, and better value for society.

Patients and patient organisations play a key role in advocating for safer care, which should be promoted through empowerment and participation at all levels. Research suggests that “lay expertise” could be the backbone of patient safety, including in acute illness, but there are barriers – such as patients’ concerns not being taken seriously, persistent hierarchical culture, and the disempowering nature of many healthcare settings. This session will build on previous work done by EPF to identify ways forward towards achieving a patient safety culture where patients’ experiences are valued and their participation welcomed.

Brief glimpse of main messages from the parallel sessions
• Congress rapporteur
Keynote speech
• Marc Boutin, National Health Council (US)

How can and should patients’ involvement shape the education and the continuous professional development of our future healthcare professionals? What can patient involvement bring to the education of other professionals, e.g. health managers, researchers, industry and regulators?
• Moderated by Matthew May, EUPATI Coordinator Case studies of innovative practice followed by discussion with panel:
• Michel Ballieu
• Patient organisation perspective • Academic/educator perspective
• Young HCP/ student perspective

Brief overview of main messages of from the three days
• Usman Khan, Mair Elliott, Zoltan Aszalos
Interview: “Why health systems must start delivering for patients” • Stefano Scarpetta, Director of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD, interviewed by Susanna Palkonen, President of PACT
Call for affirmation of commitment from participants to move forward on patient involvement in their own environments
• Elisabeth Kasilingam, EMSP & Member of the EPF Youth Group
Closing of the Congress
• Marco Greco, EPF President