Patient organisations: COVID-19 concerns related to human research

Abstract

Patient organisations support and advocate for the patient communities they represent while also increasing the role of patients in improving and shaping healthcare practices, policies, and systems. During the coronavirus pandemic, patient organisations have provided their patient communities with relevant information on COVID-19 and have brought patients’ perspectives into the dialogue around COVID-19. Moreover, they have advocated for patients’ needs and concerns related to the pandemic’s effects on human research and to coronavirus vaccine development and authorisation. This article summarises several of the issues facing patient communities during the pandemic and provides examples of patient organisations’ responses to these issues.