KUCHING: Suara Kita! a rising voice in patient advocacy in Malaysia, held a vibrant and collaborative patient organisation capability building workshop session focused on formulating a budget wish list and constructive advocacy for the future.
The session, held last Sunday (May 19) following a productive Saturday of learning, underscores Suara Kita’s commitment to steering impactful initiatives well into the future.
“Suara Kita! (SK) concluded its third workshop in the SuaraKita Capability Building Workshop Series on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur.
“Hosted by the Hemophilia Society of Malaysia on behalf of Suara Kita! and supported by Roche Malaysia. The workshop brought together patient advocates representing diverse patient advocacy groups (PAGs) under the Suara Kita! umbrella,” the press statement read.
The Vice President of the Hemophilia Society of Malaysia (HSM), Shakir Aziz representing Suara Kita! emphasised the workshop’s role in empowering patient advocates that the ‘Advocacy Capability Building Workshop’ marks a significant milestone in empowering patient advocates with the necessary tools and knowledge to drive impactful change.
“By addressing critical gaps, we aim to magnify the impact of PAGs in shaping health care policies and improving patient outcomes,” he said.
Focused on Funding and Financing in Healthcare, the workshop aimed to equip advocates with the knowledge and skills to enhance access to treatments for the diseases they champion.
“Through real-world case studies, participants gained insights into healthcare budgeting processes, funding mechanisms, and successful advocacy strategies.
“Interactive sessions facilitated knowledge sharing and collaboration, leaving participants feeling empowered and well-prepared to advocate effectively for better support,” added the statement.
The statement said this initiative underscores Suara Kita!’s unwavering dedication to addressing critical challenges faced by PAGs, particularly in the domains of funding and financing.
“These challenges include the lack of patient representation in budget allocations, resulting in decisions made without a full understanding of patients’ unmet needs, stifling their voices in government budget discussions.
“The workshop highlighted the issue of limited participation in consultation sessions, where not all patient groups are invited, and recommendations from participating groups often did not make it to budget announcements,” said the organisation.
Throughout the two-day workshop, PAGs delved deep into the complexities of policy-making with SK’s comprehensive agenda, including engaging sessions with Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) officials and thought-provoking discussions led by patient experts.
“The workshop unveiled a holistic strategy to address the challenges faced by PAGs, particularly in the domains of funding and financing.
“Through interactive exercises, participants developed strategic advocacy plans rooted in patient experiences and evidence-based approach, enhancing their ability to convey compelling stories.
“Attendees left empowered to craft tailored advocacy plans specific to their disease areas, ensuring more targeted support and amplifying their impact on healthcare policy and funding decisions,” the statement read.
Suara Kita! remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting PAGs through education and empowerment.
The ‘Advocacy Capability Building Workshop’ series initiative signifies a milestone in Suara Kita!’s mission to enhance patient advocacy effectiveness across Malaysia.
Additionally, Suara Kita acknowledges the invaluable contributions of esteemed speakers, including Dinash Aravind Radhakrishnan from the Health Transformation Division of MOH, Shakir Aziz from HSM, and Chris Cheng from Society for Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Kuching (SCAN), whose expertise enriched the workshop and will guide the organisation forward.
Special recognition is reserved for the dedicated organising team members from Hemophilia Society of Malaysia (HSM), Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA), Kinabalu Pink Ribbon, and Society For Cancer Advocacy & Awareness Kuching (SCAN), whose tireless efforts ensured the success of the event.
