The Patient Empowerment Project (PEP) aims to empower cancer patients to advocate for improvements in cancer control through focused training and hosting of Cancer Patient Forums. The goals are to prepare organizations to plan forums, support a national call to action on cancer, and contribute to national cancer burden efforts. Forums bring visibility to cancer issues and have led to policy changes in countries like France, Italy, Turkey, and South Africa. Patient voices are a powerful tool for advocating improvements through sharing stories and affecting long-term systemic change.

1. What’s that Mission Initiative?
“THE PATIENT
EMPOWERMENT PROJECT”
(PEP)

2. Source: Sepulveda, C. “National Cancer Control Programmes Capacity Assessment” Presentation, 2009
The landscape of international cancer control

3. • To empower patients to become cancer
control advocates through focused training
• To prepare participating organizations to
plan and host a Cancer Patient Forum
• To support a comprehensive, survivor-
informed national call to action on cancer in
a country through the Patient Forum
• To contribute to efforts to address the
burden of cancer in a country at a national
level
Initiative goals

4. Initiative
Implementation
Changes in cancer
policy, practice, care
Sustained patient
advocacy movement
Launch of National Call to Action
Patient Forum
Training and capacity building
of NGOs and patients

5. CAPE TOWN, MAY 2011

6. CAPE TOWN, MAY 2011

7. • Improvement in quality of patient care
• Break down the social stigma associated with
cancer
• Highlight social and economic issues
• Reveal cultural differences that may need to be
actively addressed in a country
• Bring visibility to cancer in the public spotlight,
reinforcing the priority accorded to cancer control
strategies
What can a Patient Forum achieve?

9. •France: President Chirac publicly declares cancer
one of his top three priorities
•Italy: Reduced disparities in cancer control
countrywide
• Turkey: Cancer is on the national health agenda
•South Africa: a new alliance of cancer NGOs is
established with a “seat” at the table with
government. Government launches a new national
cancer registry. Improved media coverage of cancer.
Examples of Success of the Model, 2001-2011

10. What do we know?
1. Patients and their families can help us learn what is working
well in a health care system and what needs to be
addressed.
2. Their voices are a powerful tool in advocating for
improvements in attitudes, knowledge, practice, policy,
systems, and services.
3. Patient Forums are an evidence-based, adaptable and
replicable model for empowering patients to share their
stories and affect systemic change, over time.
4. This requires a systematic process for training patients and
NGOs on the advocacy process and on how to hold a forum
and launch a call to action.
5. As multiple countries engage in Patient Empowerment
Initiatives, it is anticipated that an international cancer patient
advocacy movement will emerge.