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European Patient Advocacy Group (ePAG)

European Patient Advocacy Group in Hematology

In parallel to the establishment of European Reference Networks (ERNs), EURORDIS - Rare Diseases Europe has initiated the creation of European Patient Advocacy Group (ePAG) for each ERN to bring together the patient organisations whose rare diseases are covered by a specific ERN such as EuroBloodNet.

Patient organisations have a key role to play in healthcare. They help patients and their carers to understand their condition, to find out about how and where to get access to the best treatment and care, to learn how to live with the disease, its symptoms and side effects, and help them to navigate their healthcare systems to achieve best possible outcomes.

Patient organisations serve as a key contact point for patients and carers through local support groups, websites and social media. In addition, patient advocacy organisations work with policy makers, healthcare institutions, clinicians, researchers and industry to make sure all health policy and research delivers to patients' needs and priorities. To do all this, patient organisations operate on a regional, national and international level today. 

Find here the list of Pan-European Patient Advocacy Organizations in the field of Rare Hematological Diseases.

ePAG Advocates in Hematology

Patients undoubtedly constitute one of the main cornerstones of the European Reference Networks. The involvement of patients' organizations in the Board of EuroBloodNet has been assured from the beginning in order to guarantee their pivotal role within the network and keep EuroBloodNet patients' centred approach.

The ePAG Advocates are nominated to represent their disease area in the ERN EuroBloodNet as well as the interests of the wider patient community affected by rare hematological diseases. They are the voice of the patients in the EuroBloodNet Board of Network. EURORDIS - Rare Diseases Europe ensures a transversal coordination as well as provides specific training programmes.  

Baiba Ziemele

Baiba Ziemele

European Haemophilia Consortium (EHC)

Angelo Loris Brunetta

Angelo Loris Brunetta

Thalassaemia International Federation

Maria Piggin

Maria Piggin

PNH Support and PNH Global Alliance

Dag Erling Stakvik

Dag Erling Stakvik

European Federation of Associations of Patients with Haemochromatosis (EFAPH)

Jan Geissler

Jan Geissler

Leukemia Patient Advocates Foundation

Pierre Aumont

Pierre Aumont

Ensemble Leucémie Lymphomes Espoir (ELLyE) & Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Advocates Network (CLLAN)

Ananda Plate

Ananda Plate

Myeloma Patients Europe

Sophie Wintrich

Sophie Wintrich

MDS UK Patient Support Group and MDS Alliance

Natacha Bolaños

Natacha Bolaños

Lymphoma Coalition

Jacqueline Dubow

Jacqueline Dubow

MDS Alliance (international) & Connaître et Combattre les Myélodisplasies (CCM)

Ioana Todorova-Yanakieva

Ioana Todorova-Yanakieva

Bulgarian TTP Patient organization

Euro Blood Net