For the third
year running, on the 18th of April European Patients’
Rights Day was celebrated. It is an occasion for Member states to inform, discuss and make commitments to improve patients’ rights in Europe. The closing event included a conference, Patients Rights: A growing European concern and framework for action, held in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 22 April with the participation of the EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou.
Created by the Active Citizenship Network, European Patients’ Rights Day launches a series of national, regional and local events across Europe with the aim of informing and discussing patients’ rights and empowerment. ACN together with a group of European citizens organisations in 2002 established a European Charter of Patients’ Rights, which includes the following 14 rights: the right to preventive measures; access; information; consent; free choice; privacy and confidentiality; respect of patients’ time; observance of quality standards; safety; innovation; avoidance of unnecessary suffering and pain; personalised treatment; to complain; to receive compensation. All these rights, based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, are fundamental in relation to European citizens and healthcare services.
In order to reinforce these rights the commitment and cooperation of healthcare stakeholders in every EU country is needed. It is believed that celebrating European Patients’ Rights Day every year contributes to this goal.
