EPF launches “We Are Here”: A Call for a Patient-Centred Future for Health

The European Patients’ Forum (EPF) is launching a new campaign under the banner "We Are Here": a declaration, a commitment, and a reminder that patient voices must not only be heard but must help shape the very foundations of our health systems.

For over 20 years, EPF has been a bridge between policymakers and the millions of people across Europe living with chronic conditions. We have fought for healthcare systems that are fair, inclusive, and accessible, ensuring that no patient is left behind. Our mission remains the same: to be the voice that transforms patient experiences into policy, and the force that keeps democracy humane. 

Health is being pushed to the sidelines. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed a dangerous shift in thinking. The EU4Health Programme was already cut by 20% last year following a decision by the Council of the EU, and the 2025 EU4Health Work Programme remains unpublished, casting a shadow of uncertainty over civil society organisations and countless initiatives that rely on EU funding for vital research and public health activities. 

Health is not an expense; it is an investment. A society that neglects its people’s health is a society that is failing its future.  

Early and structured patient engagement in policymaking draws on the unique expertise and lived experiences of patients and their communities, providing impactful policies with real patients in mind. coherence with real patient needs. This approach amplifies patient information and adherence, builds awareness and trust, and ultimately reduces costs for both patients and healthcare systems. 

Europe continues to grapple with significant health challenges: from antimicrobial resistance (AMR), disparities of access to medicines and medical services, to the growing health impacts of climate change, all while budgetary constraints threaten critical healthcare investments. This makes the imperative of preparedness for future health, economic, climate or geopolitical crises and proactive strategies to strengthen healthcare systems even more urgent. 

Through this campaign, we will reflect on how EPF’s advocacy has supported our community and aligned with European priorities, while ensuring that patients are active participants in decisions that shape their well-being. We have rewritten policies and reshaped the dialogue on what it means to build a Europe that truly cares.