6th Global Patients Congress

The focus of our 6th Global Patients Congress was ‘Better access, better health: A patient-centred approach to universal health coverage’.

The 2014 congress was the latest step in a significant progression over the five previous congresses, from the basic rights of patients to be empowered and involved, to using the wealth of experience and expertise held within our membership to start a journey that will define universal health coverage from the patients' perspective.

Throughout 2014, we have explored access to healthcare from the patients' perspective, and defining patient-centred principles for universal health coverage (UHC). The 6th Global Patients Congress was a vital part of this process and the programme was designed to stimulate discussion and debate, and demonstrate the value of patient-centred healthcare and its role in improving access to healthcare. Much of this engagement took place in three streams of breakout sessions, each of which focused on one of the three pillars of universal health coverage: equity, quality and financing.