Who we are

The European Patients' Forum: our vision, mission, and strategic goals

The European Patients’ Forum (EPF) is an independent non-profit, non-governmental umbrella organisation of patient organisations across Europe and across disease areas. Our 78 members include disease-specific patient groups, active at EU level and national coalitions of patients. Read about our vision, mission, and strategy. 

Our vision

A Europe where patient organisations are valued partners in creating equitable, person-centred, accessible, and sustainable healthcare systems, based on patients’ unique expertise.

Our mission

To advance the interests of patients and patients’ communities by strengthening their collective impact across Europe through effective advocacy, education, empowerment, and partnership.

Our five core strategic goals as defined in the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan

1: SHAPING A NEW EUROPEAN AGENDA FOR PATIENTS

EPF will support strong European health cooperation in order to derive and apply key lessons from major challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, for future health systems that deliver [a new deal] for patients. Patients are central to identifying and shaping solutions for quality-oriented, person-centred, equitable, resilient, and sustainable healthcare.

2: MEANINGFUL PATIENT INVOLVEMENT IN CO-CREATING BETTER HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION

EPF will promote meaningful, systematic, and structured patient involvement in policymaking and research and in shaping healthcare practices that empower patients to be active partners in care. EPF will advance patient involvement through campaigns, advocacy, education, research, and projects.

3: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION THAT DELIVERS FOR PATIENTS

EPF will engage in the digital transformation of healthcare in Europe to support safe, highquality, more participatory, and person-centred healthcare that brings better outcomes for patients and value for society. Co-design and patient preferences must be at the heart of digital health solutions, including patients’ access to, ownership of, and control of their data, safe and ethical use and sharing of health data, and exploring the potential of real-world data for healthcare improvement.

4: ACCESSING THE HEALTHCARE WE NEED WITH NO DISCRIMINATION

EPF will advocate for equitable and affordable access to high-quality, state of the art, inclusive care for all and for the eradication of discrimination and stigma. EPF will advocate for the Strategic Plan 2021-2026 attainment of universal health coverage in Europe, building on the EPF Roadmap and the UN Sustainable Development Goal on health.

5: STRENGTHENING PATIENT COMMUNITIES ACROSS EUROPE

EPF will, together with our members and partners, support European patient communities and health stakeholders with education, resources, and expertise to help them in co-designing people-centred health policies and resilient health systems.