July 2007

WCA signs international health declaration

Emphasizing its involvement in global chiropractic, the World Chiropractic Alliance attended an important meeting on Patient‑Centered Healthcare at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The meeting was presented by the International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO) in collaboration with the NGO Health Committee.

The WCA is a recognized NGO (Non Governmental Organization) affiliated with the United Nations Department of Public Information. Representing the WCA was Christopher Kent, DC, a member of WCA's Board of Directors and its United Nations liaison, who has served as chairman of the NGO Health Committee.

The meeting's goal was to raise awareness of patient‑centered healthcare at an international level and the WCA is proud to be a signatory of the Declaration on Patient‑Centered Healthcare, which outlines the five principles fundamental to all healthcare: Respect, Choice and Empowerment; Patient Involvement in Health Policy; Access and Support; and Information.

As stated by the IAPO, "the essence of patient‑centred healthcare is that the healthcare system is designed and delivered to address the healthcare needs and preferences of patients so that healthcare is appropriate and cost‑effective. By promoting greater patient responsibility and optimal usage, patient‑centred healthcare leads to improved health outcomes, quality of life and optimal value for healthcare investment. The Declaration on Patient‑Centred Healthcare provides a focus for aligning healthcare systems around the world with patients' needs.

"It has been suggested that subluxation‑centered care and patient‑centered care are somehow different," stated Dr. Kent. "This is simply not the case. Subluxation‑centered chiropractors have always stressed patient education and freedom of choice. WCA has always focused on patient rights and patient empowerment. We are delighted that IAPO shares many of our interests and concerns. We are honored to sign on to the declaration."

The WCA's active involvement in this international health care initiative is important for the survival and spread of subluxation‑centered chiropractic throughout the world. "It is extremely damaging when the only organizations representing chiropractic on the global levels are medically oriented groups like the World Federation of Chiropractic, known for its antipathy toward the subluxation model and the very concept of chiropractic as a subluxation‑centered wellness approach," stated Terry A. Rondberg, DC, WCA president.

During the meeting, a wide range of speakers came together from different international and professional backgrounds, led by patient representatives, to discuss the meaning and application of Patient‑Centred Healthcare on a global level. Their thoughts were addressed to a diverse audience of healthcare policymakers, professionals and patient organization representatives, to further understanding and support for the drive to put patients at the centre of healthcare systems.

Meeting Chair, Paul Rompani, Deputy Chief Executive, Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF), led the meeting which was split into six sessions. "What is Patient‑Centred Care? An Introduction to IAPO's Declaration on Patient‑Centred Healthcare." was followed by presentations of data from Hungary by Zsuzsa Csato, President, Federation of NGOs of people with Chronical Illnesses, and Nigeria by Regina Namata Kamoga, expanding on global evidence on patient perceptions of healthcare. The following session included presentations from patient advocates whose work exemplified the principles of the Declaration.

During lunch, the delegates continued to discuss the morning presentations and explore opportunities for working together, with enthusiasm.

In the first afternoon session, participants heard from nursing and industry representatives, who examined their own role with reference to the benefits and challenges they face bringing a patient‑centred focus to their work. The meeting moved to a practical level as models of patient‑centred healthcare in practice were outlined in great detail during the final presentations.

The audience also heard from Durhane Wong‑Rieger, Consumer Advocare Network and Wendy Graham, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario, about their successful partnership as patient advocate and physician that led to innovations in the delivery of healthcare in several Canadian provinces and from Jonathon Tritter, NHS Centre for Involvement, about patient involvement on a national level through a UK National Health Service programme.

The final session brought everybody together to discuss the ideas and presentations that had been heard that day. The response of the delegates was very positive and many people took the opportunity to offer their support to IAPO and committed to raising Patient‑Centred Healthcare and the Declaration within their own organizations and continue the drive to push it to the top of the global healthcare agenda.