The theme for the Partners in Patient Health Asia Pacific Forum 2015 was ‘Working Together With One Voice’. This is is the second event, which aimed to convene leading patient groups and their leaders within the Asia and Pacific region to meet, connect, exchange and learn from each other.
Over 40 groups from 12 countries attended the two day conference. There was representation from Japan, Korea, Greater China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia (RVA) through to the ASEAN. Highlights of the forum included the panel sessions covering topics such as:
- Collaboration with other patient groups across disease or geographies.
- Engage partners of patient groups such as prescribers, nurses, hospitals, NGOs or local governments.
- Tackle the burden of NCD (Non-communicable Disease).
RVA was pleased to meet many leaders from rare disease patient organisations within the Asia Pacific region, meeting old and new friends and to understand the challenges all the countries encounter, recognising opportunities to learn from one another and how we can further support one another.
RVA’s Megan Fookes represented RVA on one of the panel sessions and was invited to facilitate a table discussion. On 16th October, Rainbows Across Borders (Asia’s first patient group alliance) invited Megan as invited speaker to RVA’s journey so far and advocacy work in rare disease in Australia at their event, ‘Working in One Voice’. The event brought together patients, medical social workers, patient support organisations, physicians, medical professionals and pharmaceutical industry to share their views on the landscape of chronic illness and rare disease in the region.
