In 2012, IAPO was able to support members to attend Europe (EURO), the Americas (PAHO) and the Western Pacific (WPRO) Regional Committees. These members had the opportunity to attend the committee meetings, learn more about WHO and make interventions on behalf of IAPO. These interventions are particularly important, as they enable IAPO to provide the patient perspective on a range of subjects including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), counterfeit medical products and health systems strengthening.

Here, two IAPO members share their thoughts on the Regional Committees:

“WHO‘s 63rd Regional Committee Meeting in Hanoi was a credit to the World Health Organization. The diversity of countries represented in terms of population size, geography and wealth was enormous. Every country in the region was represented by their delegations.”

Janette Curtain, Consumers Health Forum

“I was able to speak with representatives from other NGOs, governments, and industry; networking is a cliché, but NGOs are much stronger when working collectively and collaboratively toward common goals. To achieve patient-centred healthcare, we must work with all stakeholders in healthcare, and the Regional Committee enabled Arrhythmia Alliance to partner with a range of experts to achieve this."

Fred Cotterill, Arrhythmia Alliance

What next?
IAPO aims to facilitate member attendance at more Regional Committees in 2013, to ensure a strong patient voice regionally and globally.