Civic societies and patient organizations together with Members of the EU Parliament strengthen the protection of patients’ rights in the European framework. This is the main message coming from the celebration of the IX Edition of the European Patients' Rights Day, organized as always by Active Citizenship Network, the EU branch of the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva and realized last 12th May at the EU Parliament.
The idea to encourage a MEPs Interest Group focused on patients’ rights is linked to the widespread request of 80 civic and patient organizations sent to the EU Parliament to recognize officially the value of citizens’ initiatives, such us the European Charter of Patients’ Rights based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and the European Patients’Rights Day, which has been organized every year on April 18th since 2007 at local, national and EU level.
Across Europe, the sustainability of healthcare systems is a common good to be safeguarded. We are worried about how to reach this goal without involving citizens, patients and their associations, as this could lead to patients' rights not being taken into consideration. Indeed, the economic crisis has a direct impact on healthcare access, especially for the vulnerable population, which are exposed to social exclusion, increased private costs or giving up altogether medical care. Faced with this scenario, the new MEPs Interest Group “European patients' rights and cross-border healthcare” could represent an effective message of the European Institutions’ commitment that any action towards a sustainable healthcare system should be done by putting patients’ rights at the forefront.
It is very significant that this Interest Group is born with the support of two MEPs: David Borrelli, Co-Chair of Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group Direct, and Gianni Pittella, Chair of Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament. This collaboration is a concrete example to affirm once more that the barriers between the political groups have no reason to exist. In addition, MEPs Elena Gentile and Zanonato (S & D) have also given their support and are all driven towards the same goal: to support the Interest Group not only as a "watchdog" to the European Commission's activities in the field of patients' rights, but also as promoter of Initiatives with the direct involvement of civic and patient organizations.
Mariano Votta, Director Active Citizenship Network
