World IBD Day 2026: Building Global Partnerships to Improve Access to Care
Isabella Haaf
Global Engagement and Partnerships Lead, IFCCA
Two importaOn 16 May 2026, the International Federation of Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Associations (IFCCA), in collaboration with the Crohn’s & Colitis Society of Singapore (CCSS), brought together patient leaders, healthcare professionals and international partners in Singapore to mark World IBD Day. Under the theme “Access to IBD Care: Towards One Global Standard”, the meeting combined an Asia-Pacific Networking Meeting with an International Roundtable, creating a platform for dialogue between patient organisations from across the region and the wider global IBD community.
The event formed part of IFCCA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening international collaboration between patient organisations and promoting equitable access to quality care. Building on previous World IBD Day meetings in Mexico City and Brussels, this year’s programme placed a particular emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region, where the incidence of IBD is rising rapidly while access to diagnosis, treatment and specialist care remains highly variable.
Representatives from 14 patient organisations across Asia-Pacific shared their experiences of supporting people living with IBD in very different healthcare settings. Despite differences in healthcare systems and resources, many of the challenges discussed were strikingly similar. Participants highlighted inequalities in access to specialist care and modern treatments, but also focused on issues that resonate across many chronic diseases, including stigma, mental health, social participation and the need for better communication between healthcare professionals and patients.
The afternoon International Roundtable broadened the discussion by bringing together speakers from patient organisations, academia and healthcare to explore how international cooperation can help address common challenges. Discussions emphasised that while healthcare systems differ considerably from one country to another, people living with chronic diseases often face many of the same barriers, underlining the importance of sharing experiences, learning from one another and working collectively to influence policy and improve care.
A key outcome of the meeting was the continued development of the Global IBD Patient Charter, a patient-led initiative that seeks to define shared principles for quality IBD care while recognising the realities of different healthcare systems around the world. The discussions and recommendations from Singapore will help inform the next stage of this global advocacy initiative.
For IFCCA, the Singapore meeting once again demonstrated the important role that international patient organisations can play in connecting communities, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ensuring that patient perspectives are reflected in discussions about healthcare policy and research. While the meeting focused on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, many of the themes raised, equitable access to care, reducing stigma, patient empowerment and international collaboration, are shared across the wider community of chronic immune-mediated diseases.
The International Federation of Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Associations (IFCCA) is a global federation of 51 national patient associations working to improve the lives of people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) through advocacy, research, education, awareness raising and international collaboration. Learn more about IFCCA at www.ifcca-ibd.org
Other NEWS
Webinar – Pain Unpacked: Understanding Different Types of Pain and Their Impact
As part of Pain Awareness Month, ASIF is hosting a Webinar on the important …
Read More
IMAP Gains Momentum as More Than 20 Countries Confirm Participation
More than 20 countries across Europe have already agreed to …
Read More