5 Opportunities to Advance Patient-Centered Care in 2026

Through stakeholder summits, roundtables, and policy forums, GAfPA identified unmet needs, barriers to early diagnosis and treatment and opportunities to drive meaningful change. Coalition building and awareness campaigns empowered stakeholders to inform policymaking and shape better health outcomes.

Looking ahead, GAfPA has identified five key opportunities to advance patient-centered care in 2026 and beyond: 

1. Early is Better

Early detection and intervention saves lives and reduces long-term costs for health care systems, as well as patients. Screening for cardio-kidney-metabolic conditions, risk factors like high LDL cholesterol, and signals of chronic inflammation, thyroid disease, anemia and iron deficiency allows clinicians to intervene before complications arise. GAfPA and its partners advocate for health systems to make regular testing routine and accessible, ensuring patients receive timely care and optimal outcomes. 

2. Remission is Not Just for Cancer

Remission shouldn’t be limited to oncology. For chronic inflammatory conditions, achieving remission through early stage treatment, shared decision-making and access to innovative therapies can restore quality of life and reduce pain and disability. Through its leadership of the Global Remission Coalition, GAfPA will continue to champion policies that prioritize remission as a goal across chronic inflammatory conditions. 

3. Prioritize Primary and Community Care

Strong primary care systems are the backbone of patient-centered health. By integrating routine screenings and personalized care plans into community settings, patients can access holistic, integrated care close to home. As the secretariat to the Global Patient Alliance for Kidney Health, GAfPA advocates for policies that increase primary and community care capacity and reduce stress on over stretched specialist and hospital-based care. 

4. Empower People with Lived Experience to Meaningfully Engage Policymakers

Patients bring invaluable insights to health policy. Through its Expert Patient Advocacy Academy, GAfPA and its partners equip individuals to participate in health technology assessments, testify before committees and share real-world experiences that inform policymaking. In 2026, GAfPA will expand efforts to ensure patient voices are heard at every level of policymaking. 

5. Think Globally, but Act Nationally

Global campaigns create consensus and set the vision, but real change happens locally. Initiatives like the Make the Change for Kidney Health campaign highlight the need for WHO recognition and global frameworks, while urging national leaders to adopt these principles. GAfPA will work with country-level coalitions to translate global goals into actionable national programs. 

The path forward is clear: to advance patient-centered care, stakeholders must prioritize early intervention, remission-focused care, strong primary systems, empowered patients and globally informed national action. Together, these priorities will drive meaningful progress toward patient-centered care in 2026 and beyond.