By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    photo of hands with blue veins
    8 Proven Tips on Finding Difficult Veins
    November 12, 2021
    tips for getting over the pandemic blues
    4 Proven Ways to Get Over the Pandemic Blues
    February 22, 2022
    medical industry innovations
    How is CNC Machining Transforming the Medical Industry?
    June 2, 2022
    Latest News
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Good Riddance to Routine Pelvic Examinations
    August 26, 2014
    Image
    AMA Awards $11M to Medical Schools Poised to Transform #meded
    June 21, 2013
    HIPAA, content marketing
    Keeping Your Content Marketing HIPAA-Compliant
    October 7, 2014
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Democracy Comes to Healthcare
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Public Health > Democracy Comes to Healthcare
BusinessPublic HealthSocial Media

Democracy Comes to Healthcare

Paul Tunnah
Paul Tunnah
Share
5 Min Read
pharmaphorum
SHARE

pharmaphorumWe’ve just had a General Election in the UK, leading to some people being happy about the outcome and some to be less happy. In case you’ve missed all the excitement, the Conservative party gained a majority, so no longer need to operate as a coalition government, and the Scottish National Party won in almost every region in Scotland.

pharmaphorumWe’ve just had a General Election in the UK, leading to some people being happy about the outcome and some to be less happy. In case you’ve missed all the excitement, the Conservative party gained a majority, so no longer need to operate as a coalition government, and the Scottish National Party won in almost every region in Scotland.

But whether you think the outcome of the result is good, bad or indifferent, watching democracy in action is always interesting – and something we should never take for granted. Arguments aside about whether a ‘first past the post’ system is the best form of representative voting (that’s a whole separate discussion), the General Election gave everyone the chance to make their voice heard, by voting on who is elected to govern the country, based on the policies they present and the potential impact on the voters.

Surely the same logic should apply in all matters relating to healthcare? The patient, who most acutely feels the impact of healthcare decisions, should likewise be able to exercise their democratic right to have their say – and what better place to do so than at any of the myriad of health-related conferences taking place every week.

More Read

Robert Pearl
A Healthcare CEO Speaks Out About Domestic Violence
eHealth in Japan: Interview with Jeffrey Schnack
What Is HIPAA Compliant Hosting?
The Interview: Some Lessons for Healthcare PR
Avoid These Top Three Mistakes in Clinical Trial Marketing

Which is why I think the ‘Patients Included’ initiative is such a smart – and democratic – idea.

It’s basic premise is that any conference, congress or event taking place within healthcare (which therefore has a consequent impact on patients’ lives) should ensure patients are not only actively involved in the event itself, but also in shaping its agenda. Based on some initial observations by Lucien Engelen, a long-time innovator in healthcare, and subsequently developed by a number of expert supporters, including a number of patients, the Patients Included Charter for Conferences has now been launched.

It states a number of clauses that conferences must adhere to in being classed as ‘Patients Included’, including the involvement of patients and caregivers in the development of the agenda and delivery of the conference (with their costs covered), plus access made available for virtual participants, including live video streaming where possible, to help other patients follow proceedings.

It’s a beautifully simple concept and one that I think will catch on, as more and more expert speakers refuse to attend conferences that do not meet the Patients Included criteria. It will impact all healthcare events over time, including medical congresses. This is good, because the events that I attend featuring patients more prominently are always the more informative and richer in dialogue for it.

But it also raises interesting questions about how far this concept could go within healthcare beyond conferences. What if a clinical trial was not considered valid by the regulatory authorities if patients had not been involved in the design of its protocol? What if no reimbursement decision on a novel therapeutic could be made without direct input and assessment by patients? The list of ideas goes on and on and raises some questions that every organisation in healthcare needs to start thinking about as the patient voice becomes ever louder.

It is another great example of how social media has democratised the conversation within healthcare and, like those making their feelings clear on the UK General Election, means there is no place to hide for activities that do not appreciate the view of the patient. Just like those poor MPs who failed to secure enough support in their constituency, patients will vote out conferences that don’t listen to them.

My advice: keep a close watch on Patients Included, as it’s a marker for not only how conferences must adapt, but all of healthcare.

TAGGED:pharmaphorum
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025
paramedics in surgical gloves and masks
How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
Health care
July 16, 2025

You Might also Like

TV_noise.jpg
eHealthSocial Media

Why TV Ads Might Not Be the Most Effective Use of Your Medical Practice’s Marketing Dollars

May 15, 2016

HealthCare Business: 10 Tech Trends that are Going Mainstream and What to Do About It

December 29, 2011

5 Laws of Innovation and Adoption for Telehealth / mHealth

February 26, 2013

From Millennials to Seniors: How to Meet Diverse Digital Demands in Healthcare

March 23, 2015
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?