A landmark initiative being launched at IAPO’s 11th Global Patients Congress in Manila in November 2025, the Global Patient Charter on Social Participation is a practical advocacy tool designed to help patient organisations in engaging governments and promoting locally rooted and context-sensitive social participation.

It has been developed as part of IAPO’s efforts to promote social participation in line with the World Health Assembly resolution on social participation for universal health coverage, health and well-being adopted in 2024.

Co-created over several months through the collective input of more than 35 IAPO members and an advisory group of over 20 health experts, including WHO representatives, the Charter offers concrete benchmarks for what meaningful social participation should look like.

Download the Charter here - coming soon

To support the adoption of the Global Patient Charter on Social Participation, IAPO has also developed an Initial Implementation Guide, to assist patient organisations worldwide with putting the Charter into action in different settings, geographies, socioeconomic realities and optimise its reach and impact on the ground. 

Download the Initial Implementation Guide here - coming soon

Endorse the Charter

As part of our Patient Solidarity Day campaign in 2025, we are inviting all to endorse the Global Patient Charter on Social Participation by filling the form below.

Endorse the Global Patient Charter here

Looking ahead to 2026, IAPO will establish the Patient Charter Review Committee to monitor implementation and progress, with additional resources will be released to support this effort.

Get Involved

Are you passionate about making social participation a reality?

Contact Antonia Gama, IAPO policy lead, at antonia@iapo.org.uk to learn more about the Global Patient Charter on Social Participation and how you and your organisation can be part of its future iterations.