In Lisbon, on November 1-2, 2025, the World Patients Alliance (WPA) European Meeting was held. WPA is an international organization representing patient communities from all continents and regions of the world. The meeting in Lisbon brought together a wide range of experts and representatives of patient organizations interested in the issues of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and patient safety monitoring in the European region. Participants included legal advocates specializing in healthcare law across different national health systems, healthcare leaders, representatives of governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations, researchers, medical personnel, policymakers, and public health experts. Representatives from non-European countries, including the United States, also attended the conference.

The main focus was on the health challenges of populations in the region, particularly NCDs [including cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancers, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, liver diseases, and others], which constitute the leading causes of overall and premature mortality in the European population [1, 2]. The examples of good practices presented, along with the exchange of views between patients and experts, were primarily aimed at developing common standards for prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment of chronic NCDs. The exchange of international experience is expected to contribute to more rational management of the risk of the spread of these diseases. Particular attention was given to the phenomenon of multimorbidity.

Active participants in the two-day meeting included representatives of the University of Kalisz (UK), led by its Rector, Prof. Andrzej Wojtyła, as well as members of the recently established Institute for Patients Safety Research at the UK.

As mentioned earlier, the meeting in Lisbon was a joint initiative of the WPA and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe.

WPA: a global organization representing patient communities

World Patients Alliance is an international organization bringing together patients, representatives of healthcare providers, and individual members of medical professions from around the world. The organization aims to represent patient perspectives globally and to promote patient engagement in healthcare decision-making processes [3]. The organization’s main objectives include improving access to innovative and safe...


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