Barcelona – October 18, 2026 -- United European Gastroenterology (UEG) has launched a Patient Representatives Advisory Board (PRAB) at UEG Week 2026, giving patient groups a formal channel into its public affairs activities across Europe.
PRAB builds on the 2025 Digestive Health Roundtable Manifesto
The board follows UEG's Digestive Health Roundtable 2025 and its Manifesto, which called for patients to be recognised as co-creators of digestive health policy, research and care.
The PRAB is a structured, independent advisory body. It will provide patient-centred input into UEG's public affairs work and, where relevant, its wider activities. It also creates a formal interface between UEG and the European patient community, with the aim of identifying challenges shared across digestive diseases.
Roundtable 2026 focuses on patient-reported outcomes in research
The PRAB was formally launched during the Digestive Health Roundtable 2026. Patient representatives joined clinicians, researchers and stakeholders to discuss how patient perspectives can enter digestive health research. Topics included patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), patient involvement across the research lifecycle and the development of a practical toolkit.
UEG leadership and eight patient organisations back the board
UEG President Professor Joost PH Drenth said patient perspectives must be part of the conversation "from the outset." Professor Alexander Hann, Chair of the UEG Public Affairs Group, said the board provides a dedicated platform for building patient views into public affairs work.
Representatives of AOECS, DiCE, ECPO, ELPA, EOS Network, IFCCA, ILCM and PCE issued a joint statement. They said the PRAB gives patients and patient organisations a formal space to bring their views directly into UEG's work, so that advocacy reflects the priorities of the people it serves.