Patient Solidarity Day

Patient Solidarity Day takes place each December. Thousands of people across the world rally around one topic relevant to the patient community and show support for the Day by raising awareness on social media and hosting activities to mark the campaign.

Patient Solidarity Day 2023

This year, on Friday, 8th December 2023 health stakeholders from all over the world will stand together to celebrate Patient Solidarity Day 2023 under the theme ‘Expert patients - the indispensable voice’.

On PSD 2023, we will celebrate the strength, resilience, and knowledge of expert patients who have taken control of their health journeys and contributed to health systems strengthening in various ways.

The empowered expert patient who has taken control of their health journey and is advocating for health systems transformation is an indispensable voice in the healthcare value chain.

We will use the occasion of PSD 2023 to invite the patient community from all over the world to share with us their views of who an expert patient is - what skills and assets make them an expert patient. With this feedback, we want to start shaping collectively and collaboratively a definition of the expert patient that truly translates the views and thoughts of patients worldwide.

Special tribute to Kawaldip Sehmi

We will also pay tribute to the remarkable life and contributions of our beloved departed Kawaldip Sehmi, the former IAPO CEO.

Kawaldip was an exemplary expert patient who left an indelible mark on the global healthcare landscape, advocating for patients to be recognized as experts in their own right.

Throughout his illustrious career, Kawaldip played a pivotal role in shaping the concept of the expert patient on a global scale. His unwavering commitment to patient advocacy and the advancement of patients' rights made him a driving force in the healthcare community. His legacy is a testament to the enduring impact that expert patients can have in shaping healthcare policies and practices.

Kawaldip's contributions were diverse and impactful. He tirelessly worked to bring stakeholders together and drive change. He was at the forefront of initiatives that sought to empower patients and integrate their voices into the development of healthcare systems.

As a cancer survivor himself, Kawaldip's journey as a patient and advocate made him a passionate and dedicated champion of patients' rights worldwide. He ensured that the patient's perspective was not only heard but also acted upon. His brilliance, innovative thinking, and relentless drive to improve healthcare left an indomitable legacy.

PSD offers an opportunity to commemorate Kawaldip's outstanding contributions and honour his role in the advocacy of the patient expert concept. It serves as a reminder of the profound impact that expert patients can have in transforming healthcare and ensuring that patients' voices are valued and integrated into healthcare decisions.

Join us on Patient Solidarity Day as we celebrate Kawaldip's legacy and recognize the power of the expert patient in shaping a more patient-centred and compassionate healthcare world.

Follow and join the buzz on social media - #PSD2023

Stay tuned for more resources to help you call for ‘Expert patients - the indispensable voice’..