The International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO)

Who we are

The International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO) is a unique global non-governmental organization representing people with chronic illnesses of all nationalities across all disease areas, and promoting healthcare around the world that is centred around the needs of the users of the healthcare systems – the patients. 

IAPO’s almost 300 members are patients’ organizations working at the local, national, regional and international levels to represent and support patients, their families and carers. We define a patient as any person with a chronic disease, illness, syndrome, impairment or disability.

These patients’ organizations work in many disease areas, from cancer, heart disease and diabetes to endometriosis, narcolepsy, and depression. Many are founded and governed by the patients themselves and are diverse in terms of their capacity, budget and influence. Our members are comprised of community, local, national, regional and international organizations and include groups such as Alzheimer’s Disease International; Heart to Heart Foundation in Thailand; or Action Group For Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

The alliance was formed by patients’ organizations themselves in 1999 to facilitate collaboration and to promote a patient-centred healthcare agenda around the world as the need for patients to be represented at the global level became increasingly multinational.

Our culture and values

Since its inception, IAPO has become recognized as a crucial alliance for the patient sector globally. Our membership is increasingly developing, and we are able to provide a range of resources, information and services to a wider circle of patients’ organizations in all regions of the world, enabling them to be well-informed and effective advocates at every level where healthcare decisions are made.

 IAPO works towards its vision of patient-centred healthcare in every country by:

·        Realizing active partnerships with patients’ organizations, maximizing their impact through capacity building

·        Advocating internationally with a strong patients’ voice on relevant aspects of healthcare policy, with the aim of influencing international, regional and national health agendas and policies

·        Building cross-sector alliances and working collaboratively with like-minded medical and health professionals, policy makers, academics, researchers and industry representatives.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Iapo takes active and positive steps to prevent discrimination occurring in its company.