[Patients also have responsibility for prevention]. / Preventie, ook ons patiëntenpakkie an!

ABSTRACT

Patient organisations should be more visible in the societal debate about prevention, alongside fulfilling their more traditional tasks such as education, peer support and lobbying for their interests. Despite appreciating the medical care he received, the author also personally experienced a lack of attention for life-style interventions (e.g. a salt-free diet, exercise) in the care provided. Since 2012, awareness among European patient groups is rising about the importance of nutrition, which is evolving from being considered as a simple necessity to being an essential component of disease management. EU patient groups are participating in the EU-wide national 'Optimal Nutritional Care for All' campaigns. They perceive prevention as a way to decrease lifestyle diseases in the long term, and to economise on health-care costs. Dedicated, enthusiastic politicians are required if this transformation is to take place; they also need reduce the socio-economic differences in society that negatively impact on health and life-expectancy.