
APPIS SUMMIT IS BACK FOR OUR 3ᴿᴰ YEAR
APPIS SUMMIT 2023
APPIS Summit 2023 took place on 20-21 March 2023 and gathered over 1,400 registrations across the healthcare ecosystem from over 60 countries who came together with the common goal of accelerating access for patients and prioritizing action towards better health outcomes in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa.
During the Summit, we took a deep dive into the challenges faced by patients and caregivers, the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships, and the scale of impact we can have on patient lives when we join forces. This year’s Summit agenda continues to address the region’s critical challenges and opportunities in:
Download the Summit’s thematic highlights to zoom in on the discussions covered during this year’s Summit.
APPIS Region-Wide Summit 2023: Agenda & Recordings
For more information on the respective speakers, please click on their photos.


Day 1: Monday, 20th March, 15:00-18:00 (GMT+8)

Time
Agenda and Speakers
15:00
Welcome
Coming together to accelerate access for patients
Rod Padua, President, Touched By Max Inc. Philippines; Chair, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Advocates Network
Ruth Kuguru, Executive Director, Communications & Engagement, Novartis Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa
Iris Zemzoum, President, Novartis Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa
16:45
Break
Stories of Successful Health Policy Shaping
Real-life experience of using real-world evidence
Julie Cini, Founder and CEO, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Australia Inc.
Dr. Sawsan A. S. Al Madhi, Advocacy Adviser, AlignnEficient Health Consultancies; Former Director-General, Friends of Cancer Patients Charity UAE
Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, CEO, Leukaemia Care and Founding Chair, Acute Leukemia Advocates Network
Ajay Tiku, Regional Medical Head, Novartis Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa
#CareUnblocked
Closing the gap between patients and healthcare providers to enable better decision-making for treatment and health
Hani M Sabbour Asst. Prof. Cardiology, Brown University Medical School; Consultant Cardiology & Pulmonary Hypertension, Abu Dhabi
Mahira El Sayed, Professor of Dermatology and Venereology, Ain Shams University & Board Member of the International Psoriasis Council
El Amira Nermine Zakaria, Founding Member of Psoriasis Patient Organization Egypt (under development)
Reem Eladl, Director, Patient Engagement Country Partner, Innovative Medicines, China & Japan



Day 2: Tuesday, 21st March, 15:00-18:00 (GMT+8)

Time
Agenda and Speakers
15:00
Welcome
Elevating health advocacy with innovation and creativity
Carmen Auste, Senior Vice President, Cancer Coalition Philippines; CEO, Cancer Warriors Foundation Philippines
Ruth Kuguru, Executive Director, Communications & Engagement, Novartis Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa
Javier Boix, Head, Communications & Engagement, Novartis Innovative Medicines International
16:20
Break
17:15
APPIS Innovator Program 2023
Partnering with patient organizations to scale innovative patient solutions
Paul Mendoza, President, Psoriasis Philippines and Psoriasis Asia Pacific
Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Founding President, ICANSERVE Foundation
Ruth Kuguru, Executive Director, Communications & Engagement, Novartis Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa
Joy Ong, Director, Patient Engagement, Novartis Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa
17:45
Closing Remarks
APPIS Council Members

APPISx Events
Beyond the virtual summit, there were several APPISx events happening in countries from across the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. APPISx is where patient organizations and local healthcare stakeholders convene to discuss, partner and act on important healthcare and patient access topics in their country throughout the year. APPISx events took place in Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and India with Egypt, Gulf, Saudi Arabia and UAE coming together as one Middle East cluster to identify challenges and opportunities to partner together. APPISx will also reach the shores of South Africa, the Philippines and Australia before the end of 2023!
APPIS 2023 Council
A special thanks to our APPIS 2023 Council Members who co-created this year’s program:

Rod Padua
President, Touched By Max Inc. Philippines, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Advocates Network

Mahira El Sayed
Professor of Dermatology
and Venereology,
Ain Shams University
IPC Board Member

Stanley Li
Founder and Chairman, DXY.cn

Adam Chee
Chief, Smart Health Leadership Centre, National University Singapore

Bahija Gouimi
Region Middle East & Africa Representative, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Advocates Network

Carmen Auste
Senior Vice President,
Cancer Coalition Philippines
CEO, Cancer Warriors Foundation Philippines

Julie Cini
CEO, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Australia Inc.

SungKi Kim
President, Korea Psoriasis
Association

Ruth Kuguru
Executive Director, Communications & Engagement, Novartis Asia Pacific, Middle
East and Africa
Get Involved!
Email info@APPISInitiative.com to join our APPIS Community and be kept up to date with the latest information on APPIS. Visit our Resource Center for curated resources developed by the APPIS Community to identify and address pertinent issues faced by patient organizations across the region.