A Global Voice for Patients

The Powerful Patient has recently been granted full membership in the International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO), an organization of organizations worldwide,

IAPO is a unique global alliance representing patients of all nationalities across all disease areas and promoting patient-centred healthcare around the world.

IAPO members are patients' organizations working at the international, regional, national and local levels to represent and support patients, their families and carers. A patient is a person with any chronic disease, illness, syndrome, impairment or disability.

Joyce and Mike speak with Rachel Seal-Jones,Senior Policy Officer of IAPO, about the organization's activities.  IAPO has recently been granted special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

IAPO will now actively engage with ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, the United Nations Secretariat, programmes, funds and agencies in a number of ways. This includes:

• Attendance at meetings and access to the United Nations
• Submission of formal statements and oral presentations to the Council and other UN bodies on relevant topics 
• Taking part in consultations with ECOSOC and other UN bodies

For additional informaion, please see http://www.patientsorganizations.org