For many years, EFA has noticed a gap in lung health advocacy at the European level, and the lack of a common voice from respiratory disease advocates.
In 2020, EFA Patients decided to fill that gap and help build the voice of respiratory advocates. EFA showed leadership by seeking partnerships with respiratory patients and healthcare professionals at the European level. We also conducted several surveys to learn more about the goals and concerns of the different organisations involved. We organised three half day meetings with Directors and Board members to set the basis for our cooperation where each organisation contributed with their chosen topics.
The result was unprecedented. By December we had adopted Breathe Vision for 2030, a document that outlines the changes that lung patients want to see in their lives in the coming decade in the areas of Awareness, Prevention, Access, Research, and the Impact of COVID-19, all while working towards a European Health Union.
The 9 European level patient groups and respiratory societies connect frequently, despite difficulties presented by the pandemic restrictions, as the informal European Lung Health Group. Together they form, a shared partnership to collaborate for better respiratory health care and protection of our lungs. The European Lung Health Group also published its first joint statement on the first EMA market authorisation of a COVID-19 vaccine.
This publication would not have been possible without the insights, vision and dedication of the eight European organisations that have participated in the discussions and drafting of this paper, on a voluntary basis:
