Retina International’s campaign, Patient Voices: Deciding Our Futures, is an initiative dedicated to protecting and promoting the patient voice in health innovation.
For decades, the retinal community has worked tirelessly to secure a place for patients at the decision-making table; shaping research priorities, influencing policy, and ensuring that innovation reflects the realities of those it seeks to serve.
However, emerging legislative changes in the EU and beyond now threaten to reduce or even remove the formal inclusion of patient representatives from health innovation frameworks. At Retina International, we believe that silencing the patient voice would be a serious setback, not just for our community, but for innovation itself.
Our campaign stands firmly in solidarity with the joint EURORDIS and European Patients’ Forum initiative Keep Patients Voting, which calls on policymakers to safeguard the participation of patient advocates in decision-making processes across health and research.
For Patient Voices: Deciding Our Futures, we are proud to feature David Sanchez:
Image description:
Graphic featuring the Retina International “Patient Voices: Deciding Our Futures” campaign. On the left, a quote reads: “Patients don’t just experience our condition. We bring essential knowledge shaped by that experience. Including our voices in research decisions is crucial to ensure efforts truly reflect our needs.” Below the quote: “David Sanchez, Presidente FARPE, FUNDALUCE, RETINMUR, España.” A yellow banner at the bottom reads “#KeepPatientsVoting.” On the right, a black-and-white photo of David Sanchez smiling, wearing a light sweater and backpack straps.
David lives with Retinitis Pigmentosa and brings a clear message about why patient representation in policy and research is essential:
“As individuals living with inherited retinal dystrophies, we don’t just experience the condition — we bring essential knowledge shaped by that experience. Including our voices in research decisions is crucial to ensure efforts truly reflect our needs.”
He also reminds policymakers why excluding patient perspectives undermines progress:
“When patients are involved in the assessment of health technologies, we help ensure that innovation is not only cutting-edge, but also practical, accessible, and aligned with our daily lives.”
David serves as President of RETINMUR in Murcia, and President of FARPE and FUNDALUCE. He also serves as a Director on the Board of Retina International.
He is deeply committed to strengthening communication, participation, and collaboration across Retina International, and to building stronger ties with organisations throughout Latin America.
David’s leadership reflects the core purpose of our campaign: to ensure patients are not only heard, but recognised as essential partners in shaping the future of health innovation.
Retina International proudly stands with the EURORDIS and European Patients’ Forum initiative #KeepPatientsVoting, calling on policymakers to safeguard patient participation across health and research.
Because when patients are included, innovation becomes stronger, more relevant, and more equitable.
Follow the campaign using #PatientVoices and #KeepPatientsVoting, and stay engaged as we amplify the voices that continue to shape the future of retinal research and care.
