As the new political mandate and the new decade begin, it is timely and necessary to revisit the raison d’être of the Patient Access Partnership (PACT) and define carefully key goals for the coming 5 years to ensure that it delivers on its vision and its mission.

The Patient Access Partnership and its Partners reiterate the importance of continued and strengthened cooperation in the field of health policy, underpinned by the Sustainable Development Goals. The time for action is now!

Research evidence suggests that access to health care is the key influential factor for improved population health outcomes and health care system sustainability. Тhe Patient Access Partnership (PACT) developed (a) the ′5As′ definition of access, which details the five critical elements (adequacy, accessibility, affordability, appropriateness, and availability) of access to health care, (b) a multi-stakeholders′ approach for mapping access, and (c) a 13-item questionnaire based on the 5As definition in an effort to address these obstacles by suggesting a common framework to facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise and improve access to health care between and within European countries.