The World Patients Alliance (WPA) and the European Patient Safety Foundation (EUPSF) have formalized their long-standing collaboration through a reciprocal affiliation and membership agreement aimed at strengthening patient safety, shared learning, and collaboration with patient communities and healthcare stakeholders.
The agreement builds on more than one year of collaboration under a Memorandum of Understanding between WPA and EUPSF. It reflects sustained engagement, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to advancing safer, more people-centred, and higher-quality healthcare.
WPA is a global umbrella organization representing more than 700 patient organizations from all regions of the world. EUPSF is an independent European foundation dedicated to advancing patient safety and representing a broad and diverse patient safety community in Europe. Through this formalized arrangement, both organizations will continue to strengthen cooperation around patient safety, knowledge exchange, and joint engagement.
The agreement follows the respective decisions of the Boards of Directors of WPA and EUPSF. Under this reciprocal arrangement, EUPSF joins WPA as a member, while WPA is recognized within EUPSF’s affiliate framework. The collaboration remains consultative and collaborative and does not create voting rights or governance influence within either organization.
Through this collaboration, WPA may participate in EUPSF activities and working groups by invitation. EUPSF may also participate in WPA activities and working groups, including the WPA Patient Safety and Quality Council, in accordance with WPA’s internal rules. Each organization may also invite one representative of the other to attend its annual conference or equivalent event.
Patient safety remains a core priority for both organizations. This agreement provides a stronger framework for continued cooperation, allowing WPA and EUPSF to share knowledge, support patient-centred dialogue, and promote stronger engagement between patient organizations, patient safety experts, healthcare professionals, and wider health system stakeholders.
The partnership also reinforces the importance of including patient voices in patient safety discussions at regional and global levels. By working together, WPA and EUPSF aim to support practical collaboration that contributes to safer care, stronger trust, and better health system responsiveness.
WPA welcomes this formalized collaboration with the EUPSF as an important step in strengthening shared action for patient safety. The agreement reflects a common commitment to safer healthcare and sustained cooperation in advancing patient-centred approaches across health systems.