Mission

We need to find a new logo that will reflect:- our values (Patients' empowerment, health equity, patient centeredness)- the evolution of our organisation (We turn 10 in 2013 and will have a brand new strategy for 2014-2020 which states we want to become much more assertive to strive for patients' empowerment)- the changing role of patients from passive recipients of healthcare to active players of their own health (health literacy, eHealth, empowerment, etc.)We need a modern, simple logo that can be only an acronym logo, or a new symbol that will represent all the new values or just a revamp of our current logo.

Category

Health

Additional Information

The European Patients’ Forum is an umbrella organisation that works with patients’ groups in public health and health advocacy across Europe.  Our members represent specific chronic disease groups at EU level or are national coalitions of patients. The EPF logo does not mirror the values of the organisation (patient-centred, patients’ empowerment, consultative forum, etc.). It illustrates three naïve and colourful characters that put their hands up towards the sky.  The colours are drab and snowy, which delivers an impression of indecision from the organisation’s identity. Finally, no strong message emerges from this logo: we could think about solidarity with the three characters staying together and diversity thanks to the diverse colours and sizes but also about the naivety of a family which is not the image EPF wants to vehicle. The EPF logo does not reflect the evolution of our organisation. Over the last years EPF has managed to establish itself as a key interlocutor with key stakeholders on health issues and has acquired a solid reputation based on transparency, reliability, credibility and professionalism. With the new strategic plan 2014-2020 EPF tends to become more assertive in setting health policy priorities as opposed to being merely reactive to EU’s agenda. The current logo does not mirror these new values and may give an impression of stagnation which contrasts with EPF’s evolution. The EPF logo does not reflect the changing role of patients. In recent years, the patients’ role in healthcare has transformed from passive recipients of healthcare services to active and responsible actors in their own health management and healthcare-decision making. Health care professionals and other relevant stakeholders can no longer consider the patient as being the cost-driver and the general problem, but consider the patient as a crucial part of the solution. Patients are willing and able to contribute individually and collectively to improving the quality, effectiveness and sustainability of healthcare services. However to be empowered patients need to have the skills, information and adequate support to take an active role in the co-management of their disease. There might be a socio-economic risk that only the “better-off” could ultimately benefit from this shift in healthcare and EPF will need  to address this – also advancing the interests of those patients who are particularly vulnerable. Empowerment is not only important for patients, but also for families and other informal carers that will need to be supported as they may carry a large share of care provision.