The Canadian Skin Patient Alliance

The Canadian Skin Patient Alliance council members defined the mission of the CSPA in September of 2007 as follows: CSPA is a patient-centred organization serving patient needs to enhance care, to promote skin health and to find cures for Canadian skin patients. The following broad categories were agreed upon and were ordered in priority:

• Timely access to care for patients by increasing the number of dermatologists, working for better access to medications and for additional training for non-dermatologist physicians and nurses
• Increased availability of support for patients, families, support workers and the general public through the website and actions of the CSPA
• Increased education for patients and a focus on increasing awareness of the impact of skin diseases on patients, to the general public by CSPA presence, CSPA members presenting, and a focused, useful website
• Increased championing for research including a) providing the latest research results to patients as soon as they become available via our website, b) becoming more involved in the research process and c) supporting and possibly even conducting research projects