Patients’ rights champion urges tailored health prevention

Twenty years after the first European Patients’ Rights Day, advocates say personalised prevention must become a civic priority—not just a medical one.

The milestone was marked in Brussels on May 12, 2026, at an event organized by Cittadinanzattiva and its EU branch, Active Citizenship Network. More than 40 in-person attendees from 18 countries joined, while over 150 online requests came from 34 nations, showing broad interest in reshaping how Europe approaches health.

Prevention as a right, not a privilege

Organizers demanded that personalised prevention be accessible to everyone. Genomic screenings, digital risk tools, and tailored interventions must be introduced with equity, transparency, and public trust as guiding principles.

Daniela Quaggia and Mariano Votta, leaders of the network, described the shift as both promising and risky. Scientific advances could help predict and prevent diseases early, but without public involvement, those tools might worsen inequalities. Votta stated that citizens must be active partners, not just recipients of care.

The European Charter of Patients’ Rights, adopted in 2002, includes the right to preventive measures as its first principle. The 2026 event showed how much that right has changed. Prevention now involves personalised strategies based on individual biology, environment, and behavior.

This change requires more than scientific investment. It needs democratic safeguards to ensure fairness. The EU-funded PROPHET project, led by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, recently published a roadmap for personalised prevention, stressing health literacy, data governance, and equitable access.

A system at risk of two speeds

MEP Brando Benifei noted that preventable diseases drive nearly 69% of healthcare spending in Europe. Without action, the continent could create a system where only some citizens benefit from personalised tools. The event gathered representatives from the European Patients’ Forum to discuss solutions.

The financial pressure is clear. An aging population and rising costs make prevention essential, but the shift also reflects deeper values. Quaggia stated that reaffirming patients’ rights means upholding dignity, participation, and equality. That principle has guided Cittadinanzattiva’s work since the first Patients’ Rights Day, when patient-centered policy was still new.

Today, the network’s annual event has expanded into a major platform for dialogue, with hundreds of local initiatives across Europe each year.

Despite progress, the challenge remains. Turning personalised prevention into reality for every citizen requires more than tools—it needs political and civic commitment.

Advocacy over two decades has changed policies and expectations. Patients now expect to play an active role in their care.

Europe’s systems must adapt to meet those expectations.