Citizen participation is widely regarded as strengthening the relevance and legitimacy of health-related decisions at both the individual and population levels. It is a prerequisite for addressing the real needs of health system users. As such, it is a democratic imperative that serves as a powerful lever for reducing inequalities and strengthening the trust between citizens and institutions. This brief article reports on a discussion that brought together individuals engaged in various efforts to promote citizen participation in health-related matters. The discussion centered on three key questions: In what ways does citizen participation contribute to health? What questions must be asked to ensure that citizen participation is not merely a political tool devoid of impact for citizens? How truly accessible is citizen participation?
Keywords
Citizen participation, healthcare, health inequalities, health promotion