EP 13 - Building the Eastern European Alliance: Uniting Patient Advocates for Better Healthcare in 2025

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Passion for Patients podcast, hosted by Tonya Winders, President and CEO of Global Allergy and Airways Patient Platform (GAAPP). In this episode, Tonya sits down with Vildana Moykitsch, leader of the Eastern European Alliance (EEA), to discuss the dynamic work being done to empower patient advocates across Eastern Europe. Together, they explore the origins of the EEA, the importance of building effective regional alliances, and the unique challenges facing patients in different healthcare systems. Vildana shares her insights on collaboration, transparency, and the shared goals that unite advocates in their mission to improve patient outcomes. Plus, get a sneak peek at the EEA’s priorities for 2025—including groundbreaking efforts in mental health data collection and capacity building for member organizations. Whether you’re a patient, advocate, or healthcare professional, this episode is packed with valuable perspectives and actionable ideas for driving meaningful change. Tune in and discover how the power of collaboration can help people everywhere live—and breathe—better. Welcome to Passion for Patients.Here are the 3 takeaways:- Shared Goals Drive Impact: Building an effective regional alliance starts with uniting around common goals and challenges, fostering open communication, and creating true collaboration—not just projects on paper.- Collective Voices Bring Change: The EEA allows us to speak as one strong, credible entity to stakeholders, policymakers, and industry partners. Together, we can address issues like access to treatment and capacity building in ways that benefit the entire region.- Data is Power: Our first project centers on collecting much-needed mental health data for patients with atopic conditions in Eastern Europe. Having real, local data not only empowers our advocacy but opens doors for meaningful change and recognition.I’m proud of the progress we’re making in the EEA and look forward to the impactful projects we have planned for 2025. If you’re in Eastern Europe and passionate about patient advocacy—especially in the area of mental health—get in touch or check out the latest podcast episode for more information!Let’s keep working together to ensure everyone can live better and breathe better. Stay passionate, and we’ll see you in the next episode!#PatientAdvocacy #HealthcareInnovation #PassionForPatients