Background: The involvement of patients and the community in health care is widely acknowledged for its potential to improve the availability and relevance of health services and to promote participative democracy, public accountability, and transparency.Rapid Response Question: What are the best methods for involving patients in health system decision-making in Uganda?Findings: Methods for involving patients in health system decision-making vary in purpose, participants, degree of involvement, support methods, and context. Key principles for effective patient involvement include agreed-upon roles, budgeting, respect for patients' skills and knowledge, acknowledgment of contributions, training, and accessible information. Challenges to implementation include policymakers' lack of appreciation for patient involvement, patients' lack of capacity, inadequate funding, divergent views, poorly defined roles, and geographic and bureaucratic barriers.Conclusion: Patient and community involvement has the potential to improve healthcare services. However, its effectiveness depends on explicit methods, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, training for policymakers and patients, and adequate funding.
