A fruitful dialogue with patient representatives took place as part of the INGVER sub-project CONNECT on Friday, 5 June 2026, in Papenburg. Researchers from the University Medical Centre Oldenburg exchanged views during a world café with regional representatives of patient associations and self-help groups on particular challenges in the healthcare of the three patient groups focused on in the larger INGVER project and shared experiences and ideas for improving care in the German-Dutch border region. This meeting built on last year's workshop, during which healthcare professionals discussed key challenges and developed possible solutions. Together, the perspectives shared by patient representatives and healthcare professionals provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in our border region. The project ‘Intersectoral health care in our border region’ was made possible by the Interreg programme Deutschland-Nederland and its programme partners and co-financed by the European Union.