Principles - World Patients Alliance
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Our Principles
1. Access to healthcare
Every patient should have access to healthcare that includes timely, effective, affordable, optimal, and innovative treatments for their condition.
2. Patient safety and quality
Patients should be provided with treatments that are safe, high quality, evidence based and appropriately monitored
3. Financial hardship
Patients should have health coverage options that provide them with health care while protecting them from financial hardship.
4. Empowered patients
Patients should be supported and empowered to express their needs, concerns, and preferences and provided with the opportunity to have a voice in the decision making of their treatments
5. Patient engagement
Patients should be supported and engaged at all levels of care, including participation in their own treatment decisions and in shaping health systems ensuring that their voices directly influence priorities, policies, and practices.
6. No discrimination
Patients seeking care must not be discriminated against on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, income, health status, education, geographic location, legal status or other similar factors.
7. Patient-centered healthcare
Patients and healthcare providers must work in partnership to ensure the patient’s individual specific health needs and desired health outcomes are the focus for all healthcare decisions taking into consideration physical, emotional, psycho-social, and economic aspects.
8. Patient education and information
Stakeholders should ensure patients are educated in understandable and accessible ways about their condition(s) and treatment options. They should be provided with information that is simple, relevant and comprehensive.
9. Partnership and collaboration
Patients should partner and collaborate with healthcare providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to co-design, implement, and evaluate healthcare policies and services, ensuring the provision and access to safe, high-quality, and affordable healthcare.
Our Values
1. Respect
Treating all patients with dignity and ensuring their rights are safeguarded at every level of healthcare.
2. Integrity
Promoting transparency, honesty, and ethical behavior in all relationships, both internally within WPA and externally with stakeholders, fostering trust in our work.
3. Inclusiveness
Ensuring all stakeholders, especially marginalized and underserved patient groups, are represented and heard, while recognizing the diversity within the global patient community.
4. Accountability
Holding ourselves accountable to our members and stakeholders by being transparent and committed to excellence in all our operations, while managing resources responsibly.
5. Collaboration
Establishing strategic partnerships across sectors to advance patient advocacy, influence policy changes, and expand healthcare access, ensuring lasting, positive impact for patients globally.
6. Equity
Promoting fairness in healthcare delivery by ensuring equitable access to services for all patients, regardless of their geographic, social, gender, economic, or cultural background.
7. Solidarity
Promoting unity and mutual support among patient organizations and individuals, strengthening the collective voice of patients worldwide.
8. Patient-Centeredness
Prioritizing the needs, preferences, and well-being of patients in all healthcare systems and policies, ensuring they are at the center of decision-making processes.
9. Transparency
Ensuring all organizational activities are conducted openly and clearly, with accountability for all decisions.
10. Accessibility
Ensuring that WPA’s work is accessible to all its members and partners, overcoming barriers to participation and providing resources that are inclusive and easy to engage with.
11. Independence
Operating as an independent, patient-led organization free from external influences, ensuring that our strategic direction is set by our members and driven by the needs of patients.
12. Diversity
Recognizing and representing the diversity of WPA’s membership, ensuring all patient voices are heard, regardless of cultural, linguistic, or economic differences.
