Times are changing. Long gone are the days when the patient was considered a passive subject in the healthcare system. A platform of sharing resources and information like Internet, as well as the growing number of patient organisations, have led into a more empowered, informed and active patient.

In a document titled “Stakeholder Management” published in 2011 by Capgemini, one of the largest consulting companies in the world, the main representatives from the pharmaceutical industry were asked how the importance of the key stakeholders will evolve in a 2-3 years period. As shown in the graphic below, they all agree that patients and advocacy groups will be evolving into a more active and demanding role, making the companies to redefine their role of “drug seller” to turn into an “integrated concepts developers” in which a collaborative relationship between pharma and patients is expected. To cut a long story short: it’s the time for patients.