The World Patients Alliance (WPA) participated in the 61st AESGP Annual Meeting, held in Warsaw, Poland, in June 2025. The event brought together leaders from the self-care industry, patient organizations, healthcare experts, and policymakers to discuss the role of prevention, innovation, and patient empowerment in strengthening health systems.
Representing the World Patients Alliance, Jolanta Bilinska, Founder Director and Treasurer of WPA, spoke during the session titled “Prevention through Self-Care.” Her presentation highlighted the critical role that patient organizations play in promoting health literacy and empowering patients to make informed health decisions.
During her presentation, Bilinska emphasized that health literacy is the ability of individuals to find, understand, evaluate, and use health information to make informed decisions about their health and healthcare. She noted that improving health literacy enables people to take greater control of their health, supports better prevention and disease management, and contributes to reducing health inequalities.
She also highlighted the important role of patient organizations as trusted bridges between communities and healthcare systems. Patient organizations work closely with patients and caregivers to simplify complex medical information, provide education and support, and advocate for patient-centered healthcare policies. Through awareness campaigns, workshops, and digital engagement, these organizations help improve understanding of health information and encourage responsible self-care practices.
Bilinska further emphasized that patient organizations contribute significantly to community outreach, education, and policy advocacy, ensuring that health information is accessible, culturally relevant, and inclusive. By supporting shared decision-making and strengthening patient voices, these organizations play a vital role in building more health-literate societies.
Her contribution and the work of the World Patients Alliance were widely appreciated by participants, highlighting the growing recognition of patient organizations as key partners in advancing prevention, self-care, and health literacy worldwide.
The AESGP Annual Meeting continues to serve as an important platform for dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders committed to empowering patients and strengthening health systems through responsible self-care.
