The Patients’ Academy is an extended training programme by the Greek Patients’ Association. The main objective is to create qualified patient experts for participation in health policy committees. However, the overall framework to strengthen health literacy, the sustainability of patients’ associations and the improvement of their quality of life. The programme is customised based on the Greek society’s needs, bringing the best practices and models from similar innovative programmes from abroad, such as the European Patient Education Academy (EUPATI).
Patients’ Academy Pillars
This pillar is implemented in structured multi-month training cycles. The training programme is implemented on a training platform, with an evaluation process at the end of each module. Upon successful completion of the programme, a certification of specialisation is granted. Curriculum 1. Overview of Drug Research and Development 2. Clinical Development 3. Regulatory Affairs 4. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) 5. Medical Devices 6. Digital Health 7. Drug Research and Development Process 8. Pharmacovigilance 9. Intellectual Property and Life Cycle Issues Curriculum
One of the main directions of the Patient Academy is the training of patient representatives on selected topics. The aim is to get more patient representatives and familiarise them with the basic principles of health policies and health economics and to introduce them to academics and experts in health policies. Indicative Themes in Health Policies Patient involvement in the development, regulatory framework and safe use of medicines Drug life cycle, medical devices and therapies Research and measurement of the performance of health services Registries & Treatment Protocols Clinical practices & their regulatory framework Broader Empowerment Themes Introduction to Self-care and Self-management Digital and Health Programming Self-care in minor/self-limiting conditions Patient advocacy and empowerment Capacity building for health professionals Introduction to Mindfulness and Stress Management Nutrition and Physical Activity Coping with Chronic Pain Building resilience and positive self-image Conclusion and next steps
This pillar uses the material from the first two pillars and makes it available for asynchronous training. Presentations, videos from the seminar cycles, as well as selected material from the Patient Expert Training Programme will be available, and certification of attendance will be provided after completion of topics.
Based on expressed needs and requests from Patient Associations, working groups will be established to address specific issues. Subsequently, relevant empowerment meetings will be coordinated.