Foro Español de Pacientes seeks stable funding and more influence in Congress

Andoni Lorenzo, president of the Foro Español de Pacientes (FEP), appeared before the Health Commission of the Congress of Deputies to advocate for stable public funding and expanded participation for patient organizations.

Lorenzo emphasized the need for a ‘secure, stable, and continuous’ funding framework based on objective and transparent criteria. He argued that such resources are essential tools to strengthen the independence, transparency, and institutional capacity of these organizations rather than being a privilege.

Furthermore, the FEP proposed increasing patient involvement in key health bodies, such as the Health Advisory Council, the State Public Health Agency, and the Consultative Committee of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System. Lorenzo stressed that the proposed Law of Patient Organizations must move beyond ‘rhetorical recognition’ to establish clear mechanisms for how and when patient groups participate in healthcare decision-making.