New WHO Framework aims to champion the patient experience

The World Health Organization (WHO) is launching a new framework and series of publications to help people living with long-term conditions.

Entitled “Intention to action”, the publication series aims to look at how to include people with a lived experience of a disease in decision-making and policy-making. The aim is to support individuals to co-create and enhance policies, programmes and services within their condition area.

There are no standard approaches on how best to include people in decision-making areas as well as a lack of evidence. The new series will give a platform for people to share solutions, challenges and best practice.

The series is part of the WHO Framework for Meaningful Engagement of People Living with Noncommunicable Diseases, and Mental Health and Neurological Conditions, which was released on 11 May 2023.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, tend to be long-term and the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors. The main types of NCD are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma) and diabetes.

The framework aims to guide people working at WHO and in Member States to ensure meaningful engagement of people with lived experience.

Read more information on the Meaningful Engagement Framework.

Read more information on the Intention to action publication series.

ELF has a free online programme that introduces patients and carers to some of the basic skills and knowledge needed to represent themselves and others successfully. The programme is designed to support people to get involved in patient and public involvement (PPI) and become a patient ambassador (patient representative). Find out more: European Patient Ambassador Programme.