Australian Patient Advocacy Alliance Ltd

The Australian Patient Advocacy Alliance Ltd, known as the APAA, is a collective of national health organizations in Australia dedicated to advocating for individuals with complex and chronic diseases. With an Australian Business Number (ABN) of 91650360946RR0001, the organization aims to amplify the voices of Australians living with these conditions in federal policy discussions.

Overview

The APAA brings together more than 20 Australian consumer health groups, collectively representing over 15 million Australians who live with chronic health conditions. This broad representation enables the APAA to promote systemic solutions that improve access to healthcare, reduce barriers, and push for innovations that enhance health outcomes for Australians.

Objectives

The core objectives of the APAA include:

• Consumer-Centric Healthcare Systems: Advocating for timely and equitable access to the best available treatments and care.
• Co-Designed Health Policies: Ensuring that consumers are involved at every stage of the health policy development process.
• Systemic Reform: Pursuing reforms in health policies that benefit all Australians with chronic conditions.

Membership and Leadership

The APAA is comprised of various prominent health advocacy organizations, including:

• Arthritis Australia
• Huntington’s NSW ACT
• Bowel Cancer Australia
• CanSpeak
• Cancer Voices Australia
• Crohn’s and Colitis Australia
• Emerge Australia
• Save Our Sons Duchenne Australia

Its board includes experienced leaders from its member organizations, such as Leanne Raven from Crohn’s and Colitis Australia and Sandy Semsar from Save Our Sons Duchenne Australia.

Activities

The APAA actively engages in monitoring government policies and external health contexts to ensure that patient perspectives are integrated into decision-making processes. It also participates in parliamentary inquiries related to health care, such as submissions to the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport, focusing on improving drug approval processes and health technology assessments.

Vision

The organization envisions a healthcare system that places consumers at its core, utilizing their experiences to guide policy decisions. This approach aims to foster a more inclusive and responsive healthcare environment for Australians living with chronic conditions.

[1] https://patientadvocacyalliance.org.au [2] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/5cc3ddf8-e40e-ec11-b6e5-00224810d1a7/profile [3] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/5cc3ddf8-e40e-ec11-b6e5-00224810d1a7/documents/19f64374-2766-ed11-9561-002248122521 [4] https://patientadvocacyalliance.org.au/about/ [5] https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=6263c3e4-aab1-4887-ba43-fc418c056e04&subId=693415