Challenges
Despite their expansion, pan-European and national respiratory organisations face many challenges, which were identified in the 2011 survey as:
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Funding, especially in the current economic climate. Patient organisations are striving to improve their efficiency and to keep costs to a minimum. Many are using strategic planning to focus and prioritise their activities.
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Ensuring that patients’ voices are heard in policy and implementation processes both at a national and European level.
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Finding meaningful ways to interact with healthcare professionals.
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Competition between and within patient organisations and professional societies, preventing useful collaboration and hindering progress.
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Rare-disease patient organisations struggling to establish themselves and find the support they need to function effectively.
See the entire Patient organisations and the European Lung Foundation Chapter