In order to move towards a more humanised, equitable and sustainable healthcare, it is necessary for patients to be perceived as an active agent and a fundamental part of the healthcare system. This was revealed at the Let’s Talk About Health breakfast, organized by the Health Observatory (OdS)with the collaboration of AbbVie, which included the participation of the Health Secretary of the Madrid PP, Elena Mantilla, who highlighted the essential role that patient associations play in advancing excellence in the health system in the region.
The meeting was attended by the president of the Platform of Patient Organizations (POP), Carina Escobar; the president of the Spanish Group of Cancer Patients (Gepac) and President of the Spanish Association of People Affected by Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia (AEAL), Begoña Barragán; the director of the Parkinson’s Association Madrid, Laura Carrasco and the communication director of the Association of Affected by Atopic Dermatitis (AADA), Africa Luca de Tena. These associations put on the table the need to advance towards a greater integration of the patient in the entire care cycle, as well as to bet on early diagnosis to advance in the correct approach to pathologies.
the too General Director of Inspection, Planning and Sanitary Strategy Community of Madrid, Mantilla, He highlighted how the region is working to offer greater differentiating care to patients, betting on close Health and with a high level of specialization. Proof of this, he pointed out, are regulations such as the patient safety decree, the new Pharmacy Law, the Assisted Human Reproduction birth plan or the new prescription visa for medicines.
Regarding the points of improvement; from the POP they urged to bet on chronicity because, as Escobar has indicated, this «consumes 80% of health spending and it represents the great demographic challenge along with ageing”. And, although the plan for fragility or humanization touches on chronicity without naming it, he pointed out, “we must have a specific plan for complex chronicity with its specific indicators and clear leadership and budget allocation.” Among the specific measures that it proposes in this regard, the implementation of population stratification tools, especially in the health field, stands out, “the clinical history must identify the complex chronic patient and their biopsychosocial situation, for example, consider indicators: Unwanted loneliness , whether or not he can be accompanied to a consultation, chronic pain, mental health, etc. “, specified the president of the POP.
Cancer is another of the priorities for the Community of Madrid. And, although from Gepac they recognize the high level of care that defines Madrid in this sense, they identify certain points for improvement, not only at the regional level, but also at the national level: “We have to work on early diagnosis and, above all, on improving access to innovative therapies, as well as biomarkers, as they are decisive in offering precision medicine”. And it is that, as Barragán pointed out, access to innovations in Spain suffers delays of up to 500 days. “It is useless for a drug to be approved if it is not financed, it cannot be allowed.”
for his part Laura Carrasco He highlighted the problems that this disease causes in all areas, requiring intervention in many fields. In this sense, he has highlighted the need to advance equity in access to expert neurological and nursing care in movement disorders. Thus, he urged the establishment of equitable access to treatment through the accreditation of expert centers in movement disorders based on the population’s need, as well as the implementation of complete and integrated care pathways.
Finally, África Luca de Tena, exposed the impact that this pathology has in all areas of life: family, social and work. Thus, she focused on patients who present more severe forms of the disease, and who need multidisciplinary and integrated care, which allows them to have a better quality of life. A more agile referral to the specialist, the Incorporation of the figure of the nurse in the follow-up of the patient or the financing of emollients for these patients have been some of their requests.
In order to respond to all these requests, and with the aim of continuing to advance healthcare excellence in the Community of Madrid, Mantilla undertook to maintain a fluid dialogue and work to incorporate patients in decision-making in the region. The Secretary of Health of the PP of Madrid highlighted the important role that patient associations play in the face “of drawing the health of the future; with your vision and contribution we can offer close, humanized and, above all, sustainable assistance».
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