The first European Patients' Rights Day was celebrated on 29th March 2007 at the European Parliament in Brussels, with more than 180 delegates from 25 countries representing the interest of patients. Also taking part in the event were the public, policymakers, healthcare providers, legislators, payers and industry. Head of cabinet of the Commissioner, Mr. Philippe Brunet, opened the event and some 23 MEPs from various political groups all spoke of the importance of a European Patients' Rights Day. The event concluded with the commitment from Active Citizenship Network and participating organizations to push forward for the institutionalisation of the European Day, the adoption of the Charter, and campaign for its implementation in all countries along with the celebration of the second European Patients' Rights day in all European Union countries.
This was followed by two European Parliament Resolutions, respectively the “European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on Community action on the provision of cross-border healthcare” (EN – IT) and the “European Parliament resolution of 23 May 2007 on the impact and consequences of the exclusion of health services from the Directive on services in the internal market” (EN – IT), calling for “the adoption of a European Charter of Patients' Rights on the basis of existing charters in the Member States and of the work carried out by non-governmental organizations” and recognizing “that there is a need to incorporate a common Charter of patients’ rights in the future community framework in order to ensure such rights are exercised in practice across borders and in the home country”.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) also approved an “Opinion on Patient’s Rights” in September 26, 2007 that “welcomes and acknowledges the European Charter of Patients' Rights, promoted by Active Citizenship Network since 2002”. Within the same opinion, the EESC calls on the European Commission to establish a European Patients' Rights Day, as we demanded during the first European Patients’ Right Day. To know more, click here.
Date of the European celebration: 29th March 2007
Place: European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
Materials
- report
- programme
- pictures
