Assessing the involvement of the patient community in European commission co-funded health projects: the experience of the value+ project.

Strengthening patients' meaningful involvement enhances the results of health-related projects and contributes toward patient-centered, equitable health care across the European Union (EU). Although current EU health policy reflects this premise, a concerted strategy to achieve patient involvement is, however, missing. European Patients' Forum-led Value+ project has represented in this respect the first effort ever made to produce an overarching EU-wide analysis of current practices and trends regarding patient involvement in EU health-related projects. Through the extensive use of qualitative, case-based research methods and effective exchange of experiences among key stakeholders, Value+ made an effective contribution to raising awareness about this important issue.