The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports promoted the first European workshop with patient organisations in The Hague, Netherlands, on 27th November 2019. eHealth Network Co-Chair and eHAction Coordinator, Henrique Martins, joined representatives from the European Commission (DG SANTE and DG CONNECT), European Patients’ Forum (EPF), Eurordis (EU organisation for rare diseases) and patient organizations from EU Member States in this workshop focused on patient’s empowerment in Europe.
The participants worked together on Journey Mapping through an interactive session, raising and answering questions such as:
“We need to have these kinds of meetings more often, in order for us to get out of our bubble.” Ioana Gligor, Head of Unit ERN and Digital Health, DG SANTE
The Netherlands has worked hard to engage patients in the development of digital care from the beginning. The EU recognized the Dutch idea of stakeholder involvement and at this EU Patient Organizations Workshop had the opportunity to contribute to European digital health policies.
The patient should be involved in the European debate and support what is being discussed. As a result of this initiative, the European Commission promised to include patients, as well as doctors, nurses and CMIOs in the upcoming digital health discussions.