Webinar Equity and Access in Healthcare
Healthcare without barriers: Fair access for every patient.
Introduction
Equity and access are central to safe, fair, and people-centred healthcare. Yet many patients continue to face financial, geographic, cultural, and system-level barriers that limit their ability to receive timely and quality care. These gaps appear across all world regions and are shaped by differences in health system capacity, socioeconomic conditions, and geographic realities. To help address these challenges, the World Patients Alliance Asia Pacific Region is organizing this webinar to highlight regional experiences while offering insights relevant to a global audience.
The session will explore how patients and patient organizations drive progress on equity and access in health. It will begin with an overview of the equity challenges that shape patient experiences across health systems globally, with particular attention to the Asia Pacific region. The webinar will then show how patient organizations use evidence, advocacy, and community engagement to influence policy and improve access to services, medicines, and diagnostics. Through a focused panel discussion, speakers will share practical examples of patient-led action, collaboration with health authorities, and approaches that strengthen fairness and accountability. The session will demonstrate that meaningful improvement in equity and access is possible when patient voices guide system change.
Key Objectives
– Highlight the main equity and access challenges experienced by patients, with emphasis on the Asia Pacific region.
– Explain how patient organizations identify barriers and generate evidence for policy and service improvement.
– Present practical examples of patient-led initiatives that strengthen fairness, accountability, and access to care.
– Strengthen understanding of how patients and patient organizations work with health authorities to improve system performance.
– Encourage patient groups to apply approaches that advance equitable access and support sustainable system improvement.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Andrew Spiegel, Chair World Patients Alliance
Equity and Access in Healthcare, an Overview
Dr. Karriem Watson, Research Associate Professor University of Illinois
Patient Organizations as Catalysts for Equity and System Improvement
Candace Henley, Director of Equity and Partnership, Global Colon Cancer Association