Public Affairs
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Europe
Our aims in patient relations are
- to establish active partnerships with European patient organisations and to carry out joint activities
- to consult, listen to and learn from patient organisations
- to act as a central hub of European digestive health information
- to work with national and specialist medical societies to increase patient organisation involvement in digestive health
- to jointly raise public awareness of gastrointestinal diseases and screening programmes
Digestive Health Roundtable 2025
During UEG Week in Berlin, the 3rd Digestive Health Roundtable brought together patient leaders and UEG Public Affairs Group experts to foster collaboration and shape the future of digestive health.
This year's focus: Digestive cancer care, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and patient involvement in clinical trials. The meeting featured insights from UEG experts and European patient leaders, followed by breakout sessions that laid the groundwork for the Digestive Health Manifesto.
The manifesto presents actionable recommendations to guide policymakers, healthcare professionals and researchers across Europe, underscoring the vital role of patient voices in shaping care, research, and policy for a healthier future.
Shaping the future together: Patient leaders in conversation at UEG Week 2025
At UEG Week, we were delighted to host 'Meet the patient organisations!' – an inspiring and interactive initiative that brought together patient leaders from across Europe to share their initiatives, experiences, impactful work and visions for better digestive health. These sessions provided a unique platform to exchange perspectives, offering valuable insights into the priorities, experiences, and challenges faced by patients.
By bringing these voices together, we celebrated the power of collaboration – building stronger bridges between patients and professionals to drive progress and improve outcomes in digestive health across Europe.
We are grateful to all the organisations that joined us and shared their passion and expertise: Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE), Pancreatic Cancer Europe (PCE), European Coalition for People living with Obesity (ECPO), International Liver Cancer Movement (ILCM), Gluten Free Alliance (AOECS), European Liver Patients’ Association (ELPA), and Eosinophilic Diseases Charity (EOS Network).
Digestive Health Roundtable 2024
In 2024 UEG was delighted to organise the second Digestive Health Roundtable during UEG Week.
On this occasion, leading experts in digestive health, together with European patients' associations: the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS), Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE), the European Federation of Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA), the European Liver Patient Association (ELPA), and ERN (European Reference Network) representatives, convened to launch the Transitional Care Report. This report calls for structured transitional care for adolescents with digestive diseases, offering solutions to key challenges and recommendations for better patient outcomes.
For further insights, read our dedicated Opinion Editorial in Hospital Healthcare Europe.
To know more about Transition in GI, read the article 'Transition from Youth to Adulthood: UEG 2024 Roundtable on Navigating Chronic Digestive and Liver Disease Care' published in the UEG Journal.
Digestive Health Roundtable 2023
At UEG Week 2023, we launched the Digestive Health Roundtable, a new format of dialogue between experts in digestive health and dedicated patient advocates. This event marked the first in a series of multidisciplinary meetings, all driven by a shared purpose – to address challenges, identify opportunities and reach consensus on joint actions aimed at improving digestive health across Europe.
We were pleased to be joined by representatives from the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS), Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE), the European Federation of Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA), the European Liver Patient Association (ELPA), the Danish Celiac Association, the Danish Colitis-Crohn Association, and the Danish Liver Association.
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Advocacy and awareness raising
As the European umbrella organization for multidisciplinary gastroenterology, we foster collaboration within the digestive health community. To this end, we work with patient organisations who are a key partner in our advocacy and awareness raising efforts.
Our Partners
Partnership opportunities
UEG is eager to work together with patient organisations and key stakeholders, with the common aim to raise the awareness of digestive health diseases and to improve patient outcomes.
UEG Week is a great opportunity for networking and building connections. Get in touch with us to learn more about the opportunities available for your organisation.
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