Patients’ Organisations

The ILDS is committed to the inclusion of the patient voice in our work and we collaborate with patients' organisations across a range of areas.

One of our objectives is to develop a framework for meaningful and systematic engagement and collaboration between the ILDS and patients' organisations and patient leaders.

The ILDS Patients' Organisations Committee (formerly known as the Patients' Organisations Working Group) was set up in 2020 and its overarching goals are to ensure that the patients' voice is considered in ILDS activities and to foster dialogue and partnerships between the ILDS, its Members and patients' organisations to improve access to dermatological patient-centred healthcare worldwide.

We do this by following the strategic approaches outlined below:

• fostering exchange between patients' organisations, health providers and policy-makers in the development of skin health policies and services,
• building strategic alliances with key patients' organisations in order to identify and collaborate on areas of mutual interest,
• nurturing and supporting patient engagement to improve the knowledge and understanding of the burden of skin diseases, patients' unmet needs, and patients' essential role and perspectives among stakeholders, including policy-makers.

The ILDS is currently working with patients' organisations in the following areas:

International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organisations (GlobalSkin)

ILDS was there at the inception of GlobalSkin and has followed its impressive growth and development. Through frequent communication and dialogue since 2015, areas of common interest have been identified and a supportive collaboration has been established. There has been reciprocal involvement in activities such as conferences, issue specific webinars and strategy meetings.

The ILDS and GlobalSkin continue to build on this foundation through their joint work, including the World Skin Health Coalition, the World Health Assembly resolution on skin diseases and its implementation, and patient organisation involvement in ILDS activities such as the World Congress of Dermatology.

World Health Assembly Resolution on Skin Diseases

The adoption of the World Health Assembly resolution on skin diseases was a significant development for dermatology and patient communities, recognising skin diseases as a public health priority. Attention has now turned to implementation, with the World Health Organisation leading the development of a Global Action Plan on Skin Diseases and Member States expected to develop national plans in line with it.

In May 2026, the ILDS held an official side event at the 79th World Health Assembly at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, "From Resolution to Action: Implementing the WHA Resolution on Skin Diseases", in collaboration with GlobalSkin, the Anesvad Foundation and ILEP and hosted by the Governments of Côte d'Ivoire and Togo. The event brought together WHO representatives, Member States and patient organisations.

World Skin Health Coalition

The ILDS is a partner in the World Skin Health Coalition, a patient-led, multi-stakeholder group established in May 2022 to help raise the profile of skin health on the global health policy agenda. As of March 2026, the Coalition has 33 partner organisations, made up of patient organisations, medical and research bodies and industry partners.

Its current work is focused on supporting the implementation of the World Health Assembly resolution on skin diseases, including the development of advocacy materials such as key messages, infographics and case studies to help partners engage with policy-makers at country level.

World Congress of Dermatology

Patient involvement is an important aspect of the World Congress of Dermatology. The opportunity for patients to participate in and have their voice heard within the World Congress of Dermatology is a priority for the ILDS and supported by a clear framework with a range of opportunities for patient engagement. All session chairs and co-chairs are being asked to include the burden of skin disease, the patient perspective and unmet patient needs within their sessions.

To find out how to book an exhibition booth as a patients' organisation at the 26th World Congress of Dermatology in Guadalajara, Mexico (21–26 June 2027), please contact wcd2027info@thetriumph.com

Alongside this, the ILDS is actively engaging patients' organisations in the development of the Congress Scientific Programme. The WCD is an ideal opportunity for the inclusion of patients' experiences as "disease experts" and as leaders in the dermatology community.

Global Psoriasis Atlas

The ILDS is working in collaboration with the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) on the Global Psoriasis Atlas. The Global Psoriasis Atlas (GPA) is the leading epidemiological web-based resource on psoriasis globally, thus informing research, policy and health care provision for the disease worldwide.

The ILDS has been collaborating with IFPA for a number of years and supported IFPA's successful advocacy for psoriasis to be put on the global health agenda through its adoption as a WHO resolution in 2014.

Information and Support*

• International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations (IADPO) / GlobalSkin: find your local patient group or learn how to set up a new group
• International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO): a unique global alliance committed to improving the lives of patients from all around the world

Resources*
The ILDS does not produce treatment information for patients. Below are links to patient resources that have been developed by ILDS Members.

• American Academy of Dermatology – Public Education
• British Association of Dermatologists Patients Hub
• European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology – Patient Information Leaflets

*The ILDS does not endorse or verify any of the content on these websites.