World COPD Day 2020

Foreword by Tonya A. Winders, GAAPP

“384 million people worldwide are affected by COPD. It is the third leading cause of death among heart disease and stroke. As global patient advocates, we believe it is essential
to raise the level of awareness and understanding among patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, policymakers and the public about the impact of COPD and opportunities to
reform patient care. We believe patients should be empowered to live freely with COPD, without symptoms and exacerbations, reducing their interaction with hospitals and extending their life for as long as possible.”

World COPD Day 2020

World COPD Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in collaboration with health care professionals and COPD patient groups throughout the world. Its aim is to raise  awareness, share knowledge, and discuss ways to reduce the burden of COPD worldwide.

COPD Patient Charter

Representatives of three national patient organisations along with seven clinicians discussed the value of establishing a Patient Charter as a potential starting point for discussions on how to reform care for patients with COPD. This Charter was subsequently initiated and funded by AstraZeneca and aims to set a standard for what people with COPD should expect from their ongoing care. These expectations are in line with the current best practice understanding from existing COPD services, to offer consensus on global standards of COPD care and drive timely, evidence-based treatment to maintain health status, minimise symptoms and prevent exacerbations. The purpose of this Charter is to mobilise governments, healthcare providers, policymakers, lung health industry partners and patients/caregivers to address the unmet need and burden in COPD, ultimately working together to deliver meaningful improvements in care, both now and in the future.

This Charter outlines six principles of quality care that patients should expect to receive, wherever they live. The principle concepts were developed by a working group of 20 clinicians and patient advocacy group representatives and refined by the committee of experts who authored the COPD Patient Charter.

Find Here the COPD Patient Charter.

6 Principles

Principle #2: “I deserve to understand what having COPD means for me and how the disease may progress.”

Principle #3: “I deserve access to the best available evidence-based, personalised treatment, to ensure I can live as well and as long as possible.”

Principle #4: “I deserve an urgent review of my current management plan if I experience an “exacerbation”, to prevent further exacerbations and disease progression.”

Principle #5: “I deserve access to the right specialist care when needed (whether provided in hospital or in the community) to manage my COPD, irrespective of where I live.”

Principle #6: “I deserve to live with COPD freely while maximising quality of life without stigma or guilt.”