Back to School 2015: Changing the subject

No longer content with a walk-on role as research subjects, and empowered by access to more information and the necessity of shouldering a bigger share of the healthcare bill, patients are demanding a speaking role on the global healthcare stage. At the same time, regulators and drug industry bodies have concluded that patient input is key to improving clinical trials, defining meaningful treatment outcomes and assessing the amount of risk that is acceptable for a given amount of benefit.

The goal is more than laudable; the patient voice is essential when worldwide healthcare systems are resource constrained, demand for medical treatments and services is expanding in all major markets and "value" is the watchword on the lips of payers, legislators, physicians and patient groups...