Interview with EHA’s European Affairs Committee Member, Kate Morgan
Kate Morgan is co-CEO of Myeloma Patients Europe and has previously chaired the Blood Cancers Alliance and led the policy team at Myeloma UK. With 15 years of advocacy experience, and a strong focus on health and access policies, Kate Morgan is a valuable member of EHA’s Patient Advocacy Committee and European Affairs Committee. In this interview, Kate reflects on the growing role of patient advocates and discusses how different EU legislation impacts patients.
How do you see the role of patient advocates in the European affairs context?
European affairs is incredibly important for patients. It impacts everything from how tissue samples and data are collected, the ease at which you can set up clinical trials, through to treatment access and patient outcomes. European affairs and policy cannot be done in a vacuum. Patient advocates have an important role in understanding patient experience and using our knowledge to shape EU policy, ensuring that it serves the needs of the people it affects.
What EU dossiers are you “watching” and how will they impact hematology patients?
Inequalities in access to healthcare and medicines is something I care very deeply about improving. We see examples every day of patients who cannot access medicines just because of where they live. Policies that work towards addressing these challenges are always of interest.
Implementation of the revised EU Pharmaceutical Legislation, the EU Biotech Act and the Critical Medicines Act are very important in this regard. Collectively, the hope is that they get the right balance between incentivising the pharmaceutical industry, whilst at the same time strengthening the bargaining power of the EU and protecting healthcare systems. There is also the hope these policies will deliver improved pathways for bringing medicines to market, that their supply is maintained and that patients outcomes will improve. The patient advocacy community is engaging on this with interest, and EHA is too!
The ongoing EU HTA regulation is also of huge interest, particularly its potential to streamline medicine (relative clinical effectiveness and safety) assessments in Europe, promote earlier dialogues and reduce inequalities. We have been working hard to ensure that patients and clinicians’ opinions are captured effectively in this process.
How can clinicians and patient advocates learn from each other in the European Affairs Committee (EAC)?
Collaborating with researchers and doctors on European affairs is essential and I am so pleased that EHA provides this opportunity. We all bring our different experiences, understanding and perspectives to the same problem, ensuring that EU legislation is well rounded and works for everyone in the hematology community.
You have been on the EAC for several years now; what has made this commitment worthwhile?
When I entered European advocacy, healthcare policy at a European level was a relatively quiet space. Particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, the volume of EU-level healthcare policies has increased exponentially. This has had an impact on the capacity of many stakeholders to respond to all developments, increasing the importance of collaboration through structures such as EHA’s EAC.
I really enjoy being part of the EAC and learning the perspectives of a diverse group of hematology professionals. As a representative of EHA’s Patient Advocacy Committee, my job is to keep informed about relevant policies initiatives, seek the feedback of my advocacy colleagues, and reflect these as best in the EAC work. In my remaining time on the EAC, I hope to continue and improve this engagement.