On the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) taking place from 19 May to 27 May 2025 in Geneva (Switzerland), IAPO and the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC2030 (CSEM) will jointly host the hybrid side event:

The collaborative role of the global patient organisation community in advancing social participation for universal health coverage

Event details:

Monday, 19 May 2024

13:00 – 14:30 CEST

Geneva & Online

In-person attendance: Civil Society Networking Space, 9-11 Rue de Varembé, Geneva – Register here

Online attendance: Zoom – Register here

Please note that the capacity of the room is limited to around 70 people, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival at the venue. We recommend arriving on time to ensure you have a spot.

About the event

Our WHA78 side event will explore how to optimise the impact of the resolution through thoughtful and trusted cooperation and partnership at all levels. We will discuss how we can harness opportunities for the patient organisation community to play an integral role in decision-making, in particular in the context of universal health coverage (UHC), and how we can address barriers and monitor progress.

We will also unpack the role of social participation as a driving force and unifier for advancing universal health coverage, with the UHC Compass serving as an accelerator for the patient organisation community, and why collaboration, synergy and solidarity are prerequisites for meaningful change, leaving no one behind in a period of global uncertainty and turbulence.

Programme speakers include:

• Nanoot Mathurapote, Head, Global Collaboration Unit, National Health Commission Office, Thailand
• Gabriele Pastorino, Health Systems Adviser, Special Programme on Primary Health Care, World Health Organization HQ
• Dr Pamela Cipriano, Co-chair, UHC2030
• Ravi Ram, Medwise Solutions, Co-chair of the WHO Civil Society Commission
• John Coughlan, International Cerebral Palsy Society, Steering Committee member of the WHO Civil Society Commission
• Amanda Bok, Chief Partnerships Officer, The Synergist
• Jennifer Austin, CEO, GlobalSkin
• Alexandra Heumber Perry, CEO, Rare Diseases International
• Prof Lara Bloom, Board Vice-chair, International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO); President & CEO, The Ehlers-Danlos Society
• Dani Mothci, CEO, International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO)

The WHA78 Civil Society Networking Space

This platform provided by UHC2030 and CSEM will be open from Monday, 19 May, to Thursday, 22 May, for everyone to drop by, connect with colleagues and friends, and attend UHC-related events. The IAPO delegation will actively participate — hosting side events, joining discussions, and building partnerships with the diverse organisations gathering in this space. Join us to network and develop global, regional, and national advocacy strategies for universal health coverage!