The Affective-Effective Awards 2024 ceremony brought together healthcare professionals, managers, universities and patient associations to celebrate a decade of initiatives that have transformed the healthcare landscape in Spain. UIC Barcelona was represented at the event by Dr. Esther Calbo, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

More than 600 projects competed in this edition, consolidating the event as a benchmark for the humanisation of healthcare, where not only the effectiveness of healthcare is rewarded, but also the capacity to generate a positive emotional impact on patients and their families through the Affective-Effective model. 

The origin of these awards dates back to 2014, when Janssen and the University Institute of Patients of UIC Barcelona, inspired by the legacy of its founder, Dr Jovell, held the 1st Albert Jovell Awards Forum. This event marked the beginning of a new way of understanding healthcare, putting the patient at the centre of the health system. The establishment of this forum also included the participation of Cátedras en Red, an initiative spearheaded by UIC Barcelona. The first two editions of the awards took place in the Aula Magna of the University, and laid the foundations for a call that, ten years later, and under the name Foro Premios Afectivo Efectivo [Affective Effective Awards Forum], has gained national recognition. 

The Affective-Effective model, developed by Dr Albert J. Jovell, is an innovative approach that combines clinical efficacy with a human and close treatment, thereby empowering patients as active participants in their care. This framework has proven to be essential for building trusting relationships and has a very positive impact on patients' well-being.

Over these ten years, the awards have highlighted the importance of initiatives that have transformed the dialogue between healthcare professionals, patients and healthcare managers, while helping to humanise the patient experience in the healthcare system.

The tenth anniversary of this meeting reaffirms the commitment of the UIC Barcelona University Institute for Patients, led by Dr. Boi Ruiz, and all the institutions involved, to the humanisation of health, and reminds us that patient empowerment is a collective goal that begins with education, research and ethical commitment. 

Image: Albert Jovell Awards Forum 2015 at the Aula Magna of UIC Barcelona.