2018 ERS Presidential Summit
The President of the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association Dimitris Kontopidis attended the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Summit held on 19-20 June in Athens, Greece, with a stirring presentation. A positive response, to the invitation of Professor and ERS President (2017-18) Mina Gaga, to highlight the necessity of patient participation in the design and delivery of high quality care systems.
‘’I want to thank you wholeheartedly for your moving and inspiring presentations that put a face to disease and make us all work harder to support you and to get solutions for health. You change the way people think about the disease, you encourage your fellow patients and you change the minds and the hearts in society. Thank you, the summit was a success because of you’’
Mina Gaga MD, PhD
ERS President 2017-2018
“Minas Gagga’s statement of thanks, her trust and support gives us courage and desire to continue the work we have undertaken, regarding respiratory diseases and Cystic Fibrosis. With our continuous education as patient representatives, with strategy, with partnerships and proposals instead of protests and complaints.”
Dimitris Kontopidis,
President of the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association
This year, the summit focused on “Redesigning the Future of Patient Care” and was chaired by ERS President, Professor Mina Gaga.
Prior to the Summit, a group of patients from the European Respiratory Foundation’s network of patient organisations responded to a survey asking what is currently affecting their care. The summit agenda was developed to address the needs and trends identified in the patient survey through multi-stakeholder discussion, breakout sessions and patient testimonials.
A number of patient advocates and respiratory experts were invited to present on key health issues focusing on the importance of incorporating patient voice and priorities into the design and delivery of high quality care systems. The agenda was led by patients and featured a number of individuals who spoke about their personal stories to contribute to the discussion about the future of patient care.
The summit began with remarks from Professor Mina Gaga, who set the scene in relation to future threats and current solutions for healthcare in Europe. Professor Mina Gaga Gaga said: “We need to work closely, with all stakeholders, to provide the best possible care, to respond to patients’ needs and to organise healthcare in an effective, accessible and efficient way, with a human face.”
The summit was an open dialogue with patients, doctors, policy makers, the pharmaceutical and medical technology industry, all stakeholders.
