Meer dan alleen ‘Checking the Box’ (bron PGO Support)

EUPATI-Netherlands started from the need for patient representatives to act as full discussion partners in the drug field. They can make a valuable contribution to drug research, innovation and development. The Dutch branch of the European Patient Academy EUPATI therefore offers them the necessary knowledge and tools since 2018.

“Worth looking into further“

Patient participation is essential for both patients (and their representatives) and researchers developing drugs. By linking those 2 stakeholders together, we want to make sure that they stay in the conversation and that participation is no longer just a "checking the box," but actually adds value.

“EUPATI-network“

Because what can you do, if you are a small organization representing patients? Often such an organization is started from a voluntary perspective and they have few resources but great desires. Then you work together, learn from the other.

Networking is very important in the sector. Cindy de Groot-Wan is one of the students of the EUPATI NL course 2023-2024. She brings physicians and scientists together from a patient perspective at the multidisciplinary level to research the source of collagen-related connective tissue diseases.

Cindy: "Years ago, I turned my life around. I decided to dedicate myself to a specific group of patients who could use my help. I started out as a one-person shop, now we are a large group. The EUPATI network is very valuable to me: no longer have I work on my own and figure everything out by myself. We can work together to increase our representation. We help each other with contacts, stakeholders who are important for follow-up research and talks. 

"The EUPATI network is very valuable to me. We can work together here to become a stronger representation." Cindy de Groot-Wan, EUPATI NL-student

This really lowers the threshold to try things and move forward. It's important to help each other to move forward, because we all have the same goal: to make the patient's life just a little bit easier!"

(source: https://www.pgosupport.nl/)