Challenge:
The Netherlands has a long tradition of professional patient representation and a well-organized network of patient organizations. Thanks to years of attention and investment, including from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), it ranks among the top internationally. FAST is committed to advancing the next step: integrating full patient participation into therapy development in general, and in FAST’s specific focus areas. FAST works with patient representatives to ensure that patients become a natural partner throughout the entire ecosystem.

For experienced patient representatives, the EUPATI Netherlands training was developed to provide extensive education in drug development. However, the need for sufficient and knowledgeable representatives is broader than what the EUPATI training covers. There is a demand for a larger group of representatives familiar with drug development who can play a role as partners from the patient’s perspective in that process.

Objective:
To familiarize a broad group of patient representatives with the drug development process, from early research stages to inclusion in the insured healthcare package, two online learning modules are being developed. These modules are offered free of charge to staff and volunteers of patient organizations through the existing training infrastructure for this target group.

One of the modules covers the steps from discovery and early research stages to EMA approval, while the other module covers the steps from market authorization to cost-effectiveness evaluation and inclusion in the insured package.

Project Status:
This project started in early 2023, and the online modules have been available since May 2024.

Excecutor(s): INVOLV

Role of FAST: FAST is the sponsor of this project.

Result: View the online learning module (in Dutch) “From Molecule to Medicine.”