Introduzione
When pharmaceutical and medical device companies talk about patient advocacy, they are typically referring to the full spectrum of how a company interacts with nonprofit patient communities, activities that range from co-created educational efforts and community events to patient-focused giving and elements of government affairs. Partnerships between patient advocacy groups and pharma companies play a unique role in assuring that available treatments meet the needs of people with diseases. To both sides, these relationships bring value.
A meaningful patient advocacy strategy is no longer a nice-to-have for pharma companies; it’s a must-have in order to ensure access to treatments and support programs which reflect the needs of the patient community.
Advocacy organizations have the potential to influence the pharmaceutical and medical device industry - particularly in the area of rare diseases – significantly contributing to the development of therapies and in the conduction of clinical trials.
That’s why the Patient Advocacy role in pharma is becoming every day more central and key to set the tone for the company culture of commitment and dedication to patients and their families and ensure that the patient perspective is incorporated across company departments and activities.
The goal is to understand origins and present perception of Patient Advocacy role to structure a new professionalism or widen the horizon of an existing function already integrated in a pharmaceutical company.
