Mariano Votta

Director Active Citizenship Network,
Italy

Abstract Title: A broader Narrative on Respiratory Diseases. A citizens and patients, Perspective towards the Development of an EU Respiratory Health Plan

Biography:

Mariano Votta is responsible for EU Affairs at the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva and Director of its EU branch “Active Citizenship Network”. Passionate about health & consumer issues, Mariano has 25 years of experience in advocacy, stakeholder engagement, communication, European Public Affairs & EU funded-projects. Mariano holds a Degree in Political Science and two post-graduate master's degrees in European Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility. He is also a journalist with more than 50 publications in international peer-reviewed journals. He led the political initiative to launch in 2015 at the EU Parliament the Interest Group "EU Patients' Rights & Cross-Border Healthcare," – now at its third mandate - endorsed by more than 100 organisations across Europe and dozens of Members of the European Parliament. In 2016 Mariano won the Efhre International University Excellence Awards on patients’ rights.

Research Interest:

Respiratory diseases represent a major and persistent public health challenge in the European Union, con tributing substantially to morbidity, mortality, healthcare utilisation, and health inequalities. Despite existing initiatives, respiratory health remains insufficiently integrated into broader infection, prevention and control strategies, vaccination plans, programmes to fight antimicrobial resistance. For instance, as COVID-19 transitions from a pandemic to an endemic disease, its integration into the broader policy and healthcare framework for respiratory diseases becomes imperative. The presentation will provide a concrete example of activities that CSOs (Civil society organizations) and PAGs (Patients' advocacy groups) can carry out in support of public policy, with a particular focus on vaccine preventable respiratory diseases: main findings from a European qualitative survey - promoted by the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva through its EU branch, called “Active Citizenship Network” - conducted among PAGs and CSOs to evaluate progress and gaps in policy, service transformation, public awareness, and preparedness for future respiratory health threats; a consen sus-based expert policy analysis conducted through a multidisciplinary European Working Group on Respiratory Care to outline policy priorities to support a more integrated, equitable, and resilient European respiratory health strategy; a communication campaing realized with 13 national patient advocacy groups across Europe, calling the EU to move towards a comprehensive EU Respiratory Health Plan.