Newsletter: Newsletter Article
President's Messages
From the President: November 2023
Explore the inaugural column by Karen Flegg, President of WONCA, following her assumption of office at the World Conference in Sydney
From the President: July 2023
As I announced in March, WONCA is launching “The Global Core Values Project,” a worldwide brainstorming focused on the defining principles and values of Family Medicine
From the President: June 2023 | WONCA and WHO
If Universal Health Care (UHC) is to be achieved, given the crucial role of Primary Care in bringing about this change, contributing the technical expertise of Family Medicine Doctors to the work of the World Health Organisation (WHO) is a priority aim for our organisation.
From the President: May 2023
Family Doctors, the Heart of Healthcare, That is a meaningful slogan to delve into on this year’s World Family Doctor Day!
From the President: April 2023
A colleague recently referred to WONCA’s young doctors as “the future of Family Medicine.” The young doctors’ irritation at what he had intended as praise surprised him. “We’re already active – today,” they objected. “We’re part of the team that’s building our profession now.”
From the President: March 2023
We are celebrating the 50th year of WONCA`s existence at a moment of increased global uncertainty, in the wake of a pandemic that has slammed into all sectors of society, of horrific natural catastrophes, of devastating armed conflicts, some spotlighted, others overlooked…
From the President: February 2023
It can be an eye opener to work with professionals from other disciplines. Striving to communicate how we perceive our field, our awareness of what matters to us deepens. And, what a surprise – and a gift – it can be to discover how we’re perceived
From the President: December 2022
As a physician, I’ve always liked making house calls. They nurture the patient-doctor relationship. When meeting in the patient’s home context, we both recognize and share other aspects of ourselves. I find that the realities of my patients’ lives come more clearly into focus once I’ve met them where they live.
Du président : décembre 2022
En tant que médecin, j'ai toujours aimé faire des visites à domicile. Ils définissent la relation médecin-malade. Lorsque nous nous rencontrons dans le contexte du domicile du patient, nous reconnaissons et partageons tous les deux d'autres aspects de nous-mêmes
De la Presidenta: Diciembre 2022
Como médico, siempre me ha gustado hacer visitas a domicilio. Fomentan la relación médico-paciente. Cuando nos reunimos en el contexto del hogar del paciente, ambos reconocemos y compartimos otros aspectos de nosotros mismos
From the President: November 2022
Medicine’s ‘gold standard’ these days is Evidence Based Medicine (EBM). Most of us agree that what’s best for our patients is treatment based solidly on scientific knowledge.
Du président : novembre 2022
L'étalon-or de la médecine de nos jours est la médecine factuelle (EBM). La plupart d'entre nous conviennent que ce qui est le mieux pour nos patients est un traitement solidement basé sur des connaissances scientifiques.
Du président : octobre 2022
Dans notre travail clinique, les médecins de famille sont prudents ; nous ne donnons pas d'alarme tant qu'il n'y a pas de bonne raison de le faire.
From the President: September 2022
Yes. Sixty years of studies have validated, repeatedly, that the doctor-patient relationship is a key to the placebo factor – how patients get well.
De la Presidenta: Septiembre 2022
Sesenta años de estudios han validado, repetidamente, que la relación médico-paciente es clave para el factor placebo: cómo se mejoran los pacientes.
From the President: July 2022
I’ve been traveling with WONCA during the past month, almost nonstop, luxuriating in seeing my colleagues and friends, hearing their actual voices, after more than two pandemic years.
De la Presidenta: Julio 2022
He estado viajando con WONCA durante el último mes, casi sin parar, disfrutando de ver a mis colegas y amigos, escuchando sus voces reales, después de más de dos años de pandemia.
From the President: June 2022
The entire field of medicine is experiencing a period of massive change, triggered in part by the COVID pandemic. Our priorities, our clinical work, our working methods are all being impacted.
Du Président: Juin 2022
L'ensemble du domaine de la médecine traverse une période de changement massif, déclenché en partie par la pandémie de la COVID. Nos priorités, notre travail clinique, nos méthodes de travail sont tous impactés.
Del Presidente: Junio 2022
El campo entero de la medicina está experimentando un período de cambio masivo, provocado en parte por la pandemia de COVID. Nuestras prioridades, nuestro trabajo clínico, nuestros métodos de trabajo se ven afectados.
From the President: May 2022
Family Doctor Day provides all of us a golden opportunity to shine a spotlight on the central role our discipline plays in achieving the goals of Universal Health Coverage and Health for All.
Del Presidente: Mayo 2022
El Día del Médico de Familia nos brinda a todos una oportunidad de oro para destacar el papel central que desempeña nuestra disciplina en el logro de los objetivos de Cobertura Universal de Salud y Salud para Todos.
From the President: April 2022
Mental health has always been a central concern in Family Doctors’ daily practice. As so many people suffer and die before our eyes, mental health must remain high on our agenda.
From the President: March 2022
The evidence is mounting steadily and it’s convincing: Health systems based on Primary Care achieve better health results and at a lower cost.
Du Président: Mars 2022
Les preuves ne cessent de s'accumuler et elles sont convaincantes : Les systèmes de santé fondés sur les soins primaires obtiennent de meilleurs résultats en matière de santé et à moindre coût
De la Presidenta: Marzo 2022
La evidencia crece de manera constante y es contundente: Los sistemas de salud basados en la Atención Primaria logran mejores resultados en salud ya un menor costo.
From the President: December 2021
As we were unable to meet in person, the WONCA World Council and Conference had to take place virtually. A big thank you goes out to all of you who contributed to make it happen!
Del Presidente: Diciembre 2021
Como no pudimos reunirnos en persona, el Consejo y la Conferencia Mundial de WONCA tuvieron que realizarse de forma virtual. ¡Un gran agradecimiento a todos los que contribuyeron a que esto sucediera!
From the President: The Final Column
By the time WONCA News November edition is published, all of us will be making final preparations for our World Council meeting and our Conference.
Del Presidente: Noviembre 2021
Para cuando se publique la edición de noviembre de WONCA News, todos estaremos en los preparativos finales para nuestra reunión del Consejo Mundial y nuestra Conferencia.
Del Presidente: Octubre 2021
Antes de nuestro próximo Concilio y Conferencia Mundial, este mes les escribo con un por favor y un agradecimiento.
From the President: September 2021
As family doctors we emphatically support the goal of Universal Health Coverage. We know that the best way to achieve Universal Health Coverage is to have a comprehensive, co-ordinated primary health care system as the basis for the whole health system
Del Presidente: Septiembre 2021
Como médicos de familia, apoyamos enfáticamente el objetivo de la Cobertura Sanitaria Universal. Sabemos que la mejor manera de lograr la Cobertura Sanitaria Universal es tener un sistema de atención primaria de salud integral y coordinado como base para todo el sistema de salud.
Du Président: Septembre 2021
La couverture universelle de santé ? En tant que médecins généralistes, nous soutenons avec force l'objectif de la couverture sanitaire universelle.
From the President: July 2021
In 2010 when we celebrated our first World Family Doctor Day we really did not realise how much the idea would resonate with our WONCA family around the world.
Del Presidente: Julio 2021
En 2010, cuando celebramos nuestro primer Día Mundial del Médico de Familia, realmente no nos dimos cuenta de cuánto resonaría la idea en nuestra familia WONCA en todo el mundo.
From the President: June 2021
All of us have had to adapt both personally and professionally during the pandemic. For some, there has been a welcome acceleration of the use of technologies. For others, an unwelcome loss of familiar and effective ways of consulting with our patients.
Del Presidente: Junio 2021
Todos hemos tenido que adaptarnos tanto personal como profesionalmente durante la pandemia. Para algunos, ha habido una bien recibida aceleración en el uso de tecnologías. Para otros, una no muy agradable pérdida de formas familiares y efectivas para dar consultas a nuestros pacientes.
Du Président: Juin 2021
Nous avons tous dû nous adapter, tant sur le plan personnel que professionnel, pendant la pandémie. Pour certains, il y a eu une accélération bienvenue de l'utilisation des technologies. Pour d'autres, une perte regrettable de méthodes familières et efficaces de consultation avec nos patients.
From the President: May 2021
WONCA’s suite of accreditation and certification schemes have been developed, robustly tested, refined and implemented over a period of years.
Del Presidente: Mayo 2021
El conjunto de esquemas de Acreditación y Certificación de WONCA se ha desarrollado, robustamente probado, refinado e implementado de manera sólida durante un período de varios años.
Du Président: Mai 2021
La gamme des accréditations et de certifications de la WONCA a été développée, testée de manière robuste, affinée et mise en œuvre depuis de plusieurs années.
From the President: April 2021
World Family Doctor Day is an opportunity for all of us - doctors, members of the primary care team, family members and patients – to reflect on the role family medicine plays in our lives.
Del Presidente: Abril 2021
El Día Mundial del Médico de Familia es una oportunidad para que todos nosotros, médicos, miembros del equipo de atención primaria, familiares y pacientes, reflexionemos sobre el papel que desempeña la medicina familiar en nuestras vidas.
Du Président: Avril 2021
La Journée mondiale du Médecin Généraliste est l'occasion pour nous tous - médecins, membres d’équipes de soins primaires, familles et patients - de réfléchir au rôle que joue la médecine générale dans nos vies.
From the President: March 2021
As the governments of wealthier countries discuss the logistics - and the moral compulsion - to share COVID-19 vaccines with poorer countries and as the vaccine is increasingly delivered around the world, we can begin to look at what the next phase of our lives might be like.
Del Presidente: Marzo 2021
A medida que los gobiernos de los países más ricos discuten la logística, y la compulsión moral, de compartir las vacunas COVID-19 con los países más pobres y a medida que la vacuna se distribuye cada vez más en todo el mundo, podemos comenzar a ver cómo podría ser la próxima fase de nuestras vidas.
Du Président: Mars 2021
Alors que les gouvernements des pays les plus riches discutent de la logistique - et de l'obligation morale - de partager les vaccins COVID-19 avec les pays les plus pauvres et que le vaccin est de plus en plus distribué dans le monde entier, nous pouvons commencer à envisager la prochaine étape de nos vies.
From the President: February 2021
With the global pandemic still all around us, we were unable to hold our Council and conference in Abu Dhabi last year. Arrangements are well underway, in the hope that we can hold the conference in November this year.
Del presidente: Febrero 2021
Con la pandemia mundial todavía a nuestro alrededor, no pudimos celebrar nuestra Reunión del Consejo y Conferencia en Abu Dabi el año pasado. Los arreglos están muy avanzados, con la esperanza de que podamos celebrar la conferencia en noviembre de este año,
Du président: février 2021
Avec la pandémie mondiale nous entourant encore, nous n'avons pas pu, l’année dernière, tenir notre Conseil et notre conférence à Abu Dhabi. Les préparatifs sont en bonne voie, dans l'espoir que nous puissions maintenir la conférence en Novembre de cette année.
From the President: December 2020 - End of an Era
December 2020 marks the end of an era for WONCA – and the beginning of a new era. At the end of the month, Garth Manning will retire as WONCA CEO after more than eight years in post. I have worked with Garth throughout that time and was on the panel which appointed him. Garth’s first day in post was the first day of a three-day WONCA Executive meeting, in London, in 2012.
President’s reminder about the ‘30 by 2030’ campaign
The ’30 by 2030’ campaign calls for development partners explicitly to assign 30% of their health funds towards building and improving primary care systems, to deliver integrated, comprehensive primary care services by 2030.
Du président: décembre 2020
Décembre 2020 marque la fin d'une ère pour WONCA - et le début d'une nouvelle ère. À la fin du mois, Garth Manning prendra sa retraite en tant que PDG de WONCA après plus de huit ans en poste. J'ai travaillé avec Garth tout au long de cette période et j'ai fait partie du jury qui l'avait nommé.
Del presidente : Diciembre 2020
Diciembre de 2020 marca el final de una era para WONCA y el comienzo de una nueva era. A fin de mes, Garth Manning se jubilará como CEO de WONCA después de más de ocho años en el cargo. He trabajado con Garth durante todo ese tiempo y estuve en el ejecutivo que lo nombró. El primer día de Garth en el cargo fue el primer día de una reunión ejecutiva de WONCA de tres días, en Londres, en 2012.
From the President: November 2020
Every poll and discussion we hold with Member Organisations about what the most important role is that WONCA can undertake on their behalf comes back with the plea to further escalate our involvement with WHO. Our members want us to use the leverage of 500,000+ members to increase visibility and recognition of family medicine.
Du président: novembre 2020
Chaque sondage et discussion menés auprès de nos organisations membres sur le rôle le plus important que WONCA peut jouer en leur nom nous appelle à une plus grande implication auprès de l'OMS. Nos membres veulent que nous utilisions l'influence de nos plus de 500 000 adhérents afin d’accroître la visibilité et la reconnaissance de la médecine familiale.
From the President: October 2020
Life as President of WONCA usually involves juggling regional visits with ongoing work commitments; trying to fit in as many conferences and meetings as possible, to share experience and give encouragement to all our members in every region of the world. I am delighted that so much interaction continues, albeit virtually. I have been really pleased to be invited to speak at numerous conferences, sessions and meetings since the COVID pandemic started – and I will continue to accept such invitations as and when I can.
Del presidente : Octubre 2020
La vida como presidente de WONCA generalmente implica hacer malabarismos para realizar visitas regionales, y con compromisos laborales continuos; tratando de encajar en tantas conferencias y reuniones como sea posible, para compartir experiencias y dar ánimo a todos nuestros miembros en todas las regiones del mundo.
Du Président : Octobre 2020
La vie de président de WONCA implique généralement de jongler entre les visites régionales et les engagements de travail en cours, d'essayer de joindre autant de conférences et de réunions que possible, de partager l'expérience et d'encourager tous les membres des diverses régions du monde
From the President: September 2020
As the latest waves of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to develop across our world many professionals are engaged in research on sources, spread, treatments, longer-term impacts on health and a range of other related issues. Journals are reporting massive increases in submitted articles and research projects.
Du président: septembre 2020
Alors que les dernières vagues de la pandémie de COVID-19 continuent de se développer dans le monde entier, de nombreux professionnels sont engagés dans la recherche des sources, de la propagation, de traitements, des impacts à long terme sur la santé et de toute une série d'autres questions connexes.
Del presidente : septiembre 2020
A medida que se continúan sucediendo las últimas oleadas de la pandemia de COVID-19 en todo el mundo, muchos profesionales están investigando acerca de su origen, las condiciones para frenar su propagación, los tratamientos, los impactos a largo plazo en la salud y una gran variedad de todos los problemas relacionados.
From the President: July 2020
By the time you read this column most of you will know that we have had to take the decision to postpone our World Council and conference planned for Abu Dhabi in November, to be hosted by the Emirates Medical Association. It was really heartening and very important for us to receive speedy feedback from the Member Organisations that they were happy to postpone this year’s planned World Council and conference until 2021.
Du Président : Juillet 2020
Au moment où vous lirez cette colonne, la plupart d'entre vous sauront que nous avons dû prendre la décision de reporter notre Conseil mondial et la conférence prévus à Abu Dhabi en novembre, que devait accueillir l'Association médicale des Emirats.
Del presidente : julio 2020
Cuando leas esta columna,es posible que ya sepas que hemos tenido que tomar la decisión de posponer nuestro Consejo Mundial de WONCA Mundial y el Congreso previsto para Abu Dhabi en noviembre, que será organizado por la Asociación Médica de Emiratos Árabes.
From the President: June 2020
The WONCA Executive usually meets face to face twice a year, with monthly teleconferences in between each meeting. While the virtual meetings are useful to process normal business, we rely on the face to face meetings to discuss bigger, broader, issues of more complexity. Especially when some of those on Executive sit for only one two-year term, the face to face meetings are crucial to build understanding of the organization and of each other’s regions.
Du Président : Juin 2020
L'exécutif de WONCA se réunit généralement en face à face deux fois par an, avec des téléconférences mensuelles entre chaque réunion. Si les réunions virtuelles sont utiles pour traiter les affaires courantes, nous comptons sur les réunions en face à face pour discuter de questions plus importantes, plus vastes et plus complexes.
Del presidente : junio 2020
El Ejecutivo de WONCA generalmente se reúne cara a cara dos veces al año, con teleconferencias mensuales entre cada una de las reuniones.
From the President: May 2020
As one conference or meeting after another is cancelled or postponed in each of our regions and for many of our Member Organisations, we are looking for – and finding - new and innovative ways of keeping in touch, keeping informed, providing each other with care and support.
Du président: Mai 2020
Alors que conférences et réunions se succèdent et sont annulées ou reportées dans chacune de nos régions et pour beaucoup de nos organisations membres, nous cherchons - et trouvons - des moyens nouveaux et innovants pour rester en contact, nous informer, nous soigner et nous soutenir mutuellement.
Del presidente : mayo 2020
Mientras asistimos a cancelaciones o aplazamientos de eventos – uno tras otro – en cada una de las regiones mundiales por parte de nuestra organizaciones miembro, estamos buscando y encontrando nuevas e innovadoras formas de mantenernos conectados para cuidarnos a y apoyarnos.
From the President: April 2020
As I write this I wonder if the way we work has now changed forever. As the threat and spread of COVID-19 continues its path, disrupting lives everywhere, no-one can be sure what our world will look like afterwards. As a new disease, it is impossible for the scientists and public health specialists to accurately project the trajectory
Del presidente : abril 2020
Mientras estoy escribiendo estas líneas me pregunto si nuestra forma de trabajar ya ha cambiado para siempre. Mientras la amenaza y la rápida propagación de la #COVID19 continúa su camino, interrumpiendo y modificando vidas en todo el mundo, nadie puede estar seguro de cómo será nuestro mundo tras el virus.
Du président: Avril 2020
Au moment où j'écris ces lignes, je me demande si notre façon de travailler a changé à jamais. Alors que la menace et la propagation du COVID-19 continuent leur chemin, perturbant la vie partout, personne ne peut être sûr de ce à quoi notre monde ressemblera par la suite
From the President
主席通讯 2020年4月
随着COVID - 19 的威胁继续蔓延全球,影响了各地人民的生活,没有人可以预知世界将会变成什么的模样。我执笔之时正思考着 : 我们故有的工作模式是否需永远改变 ? 科学家和公共卫生专家往往只能靠当前最新的证据,更新疾病的资料,未能就新疾病的轨迹作百分百精准的预测。我们的工作方式越来越依赖利用全球数据所进行的实时分析。
From the President: March 2020
I am saddened but not surprised that I continue to write about the impact of COVID-19, or what continues to be colloquially called Coronavirus. As the disease spreads and efforts to contain it become increasingly robust, it is important to recognize and honour the family doctors and primary care teams who are the front-line clinical staff.
Du président: Mars 2020
C’est avec tristesse mais sans surprise que je continue à écrire au sujet de l'impact du COVID-19, ou de ce que l'on continue à appeler familièrement le Coronavirus. Alors que la maladie se propage et que les efforts pour la contenir deviennent de plus en plus vigoureux, il est important de reconnaître et d'honorer les médecins de famille et les équipes de soins primaires en tant que personnel clinique de première ligne.
Del presidente : marzo 2020
Estoy entristecido, que no sorprendido, por tener que seguir escribiendo sobre el impacto del COVID-19, conocido como Coronavirus. Mientras la enfermedad se expande y los esfuerzos para contenerla son cada vez mayores, es importante reconocer y honrar a los médicos de familia y a los equipos de Atención Primaria que se encuentran en las líneas del frente del personal sanitario.
Donald Li on the Coronavirus : first in, last out
With the increasing concern of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Dr Donald Li, WONCA president, has written a message regarding the important role of family doctors and primary healthcare in Disaster / Emergency preparedness and response. “First in, Last out” - The Role of Family Doctors in the Fight Against Novel Coronavirus
From the President: January 2020
The occurrence of environmental disasters is escalating. But keeping quiet and hoping that environmental changes are not presenting us with clear and identifiable risks would be wrong. Through small individual actions and in larger policy-making opportunities, family doctors have both an opportunity and a responsibility to speak up for our patients’ health and the risks faced by environmental change.
Del presidente : enero 2020
La incidencia de los desastres medioambientales va en aumento. Nadie quiere asustar. Pero quedarnos callados a esperar a que los cambios en el medio ambiente no supongan un riesgo real e identificable sería imperdonable.
Du président: Janvier 2020
Alors que cette dernière catastrophe environnementale grave des cicatrices dans les beaux paysages d’Australie, réagissons tous, en tant que médecins de famille, en nous engageant plus pleinement dans des initiatives locales, nationales et mondiales afin d’atténuer les risques et les défis environnementaux.
From the President
主席通讯2020年1月
澳洲于过去数周发生的山林大火,为这个美丽的国家带来了灾难,情况令人揪心。我们已将恳切的慰问送至WONCA当地成员,包括Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) 及 Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)。
WONCA President writes to Australian colleagues
WONCA President, Dr Donald Li has written to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) to express his sadness and sympathy for colleagues in the wake the current devastation and loss of life in many parts of Australia as a result of fires.
From the President: December 2019
It is not unusual to look back on the year that is coming to an end, to reflect on how things have changed and set in place plans for the year to come. When Executive held their meeting at the end of November 2019 it was almost exactly one year since the new Executive had been formed. An appropriate time for reflection.
Du président: Decembre 2019
Il n'est pas rare de revenir sur l'année qui s'achève, de réfléchir à la façon dont les choses ont changé et de mettre en place des plans pour l'année à venir. Lorsque l'Exécutif a tenu sa réunion à la fin novembre 2019, cela faisait presque exactement un an que le nouvel Exécutif avait été formé. Un moment propice à la réflexion.
Del presidente: diciembre 2019
Ante un año que está terminando, mirar atrás para reflexionar acerca de cómo han cambiado las cosas y establecer planes para el año que se acerca no es algo habitual. Cuando el Ejecutivo se reunió a finales de noviembre de 2019, hacía exactamente 12 meses desde que se había formado, lo que representó una buena ocasión para reflexionar.
From the President: November 2019
Our Executive and many of our members are involved in numerous ways in the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in relation to their practice. As an organization we emphasise that nothing can replace the face to face and continuous contact between family doctor and patient.
Du Président - Novembre 2019
Notre exécutif et de nombreux membres sont impliqués de plusieurs façons dans le développement et l'utilisation de l'intelligence artificielle (IA) dans le cadre de leur pratique. En tant qu'organisation, nous soulignons que rien ne peut remplacer le face à face et le contact continu entre médecin de famille et patient.
Del Presidente : Noviembre 2019
Nuestro Ejecutivo y muchos de nuestros miembros están comprometidos de muchas formas en el desarrollo y el uso de la Inteligencia Artificial (Artificial Intelligence, AI) en relación con sus prácticas. Como organización, queremos enfatizar que no hay nada que pueda reemplazar el cara a cara y el contacto continuo entre los médicos de familia y los pacientes.
Du président: Octobre 2019
Suite au succès de la conférence WONCA Afrique, le département « Soins de santé primaires Région Afrique » (AFRO) nouvellement formé a créé une dynamique de jour en jour croissante.
From the President – October 2019
Following on from the very successful WONCA Africa conference, the newly formed AfroPHC has built momentum and continues to grow on a daily basis... We should be proud of our growing voice around the world, spreading the message of good quality, professional, family medicine. We will continue to speak out and speak up where we need to.
Del presidente – octubre 2019
Siguiendo desde el exitoso Congreso de WONCA África, el recientemente creado sistema AfroPHC de Atención Primaria ha representado un “momentum” y continúa su proceso de crecimiento día a día.
Du président: Septembre 2019
Plus on est préparé aux situations adverses, que ce soit un désastre ou un soulèvement de caractère local, plus il est probable que les médecins de famille seront en position de continuer leurs prestations de services et plus il est probable que les patients continueront à avoir accès aux services nécessaires.
From the President – September 2019
The more we can do to prepare for adverse situations, whether it is a disaster or a locality based upheaval of some sort, the more likely it is that family doctors will be in a position to continue to offer the services required, and the more likely it is that patients will continue to have access to those necessary services.
Del presidente – septiembre 2019
Como más preparados estemos para enfrentarnos a situaciones adversas, sean a propósito de una catástrofe natural o por una turbulencia local, más posible será que los médicos de familia nos encontremos en buena posición para ofrecer los servicios que se nos piden, y más probable será que nuestros pacientes puedan seguir teniendo acceso a estos tan necesarios servicios.
From the President: July 2019
My first official visit to Africa, to the WONCA Africa conference in Kampala, Uganda, was thoroughly enjoyable. Delegates from 32 different countries came to share their enthusiasm and experiences of developing family medicine across the continent and further afield. The conference was truly about person-centred primary health care
Del presidente: Julio 2019
Mi primera visita oficial a África, para asistir al congreso de Kampala, en Uganda, fue muy agradable, de principio a fin. Varios delegados provenientes de 32 países diferentes vinieron a compartir su entusiasmo y sus experiencias en el desarrollo de una Medicina de Familia fuerte en todo el continent. El congreso estuvo realmente enfocado a la Atención Primaria centrada en la persona, y fue una gran oportunidad para animar más a los estudiantes
Du président: Juillet 2019
J’ai bien apprécié ma première visite officielle en Afrique à la Conférence africaine de WONCA à Kampala en Ouganda. Des délégués de 32 pays étaient venus partager leur enthousiasme et leurs expériences concernant le développement de la médecine familiale à travers le continent et au-delà. Les soins de santé primaire centrés sur l’individu étaient au cœur de la conférence.
From the President: World Health Assembly
World Health Assembly (WHA) was the usual hectic time, with meetings and side events to attend and to participate in. The WONCA delegation of me; President-Elect, Anna Stavdal; CEO, Garth Manning; and WONCA-WHO Liaison, Viviana Martinez-Bianchi; had a tight schedule of meetings. We met, individually and as a group, with officials from WHO and other agencies and organisations, representing the range of interests of our organisation.
Du président: Assemblée mondiale de la santé
L’Assemblée mondiale de la santé était comme d’habitude surchargée avec réunions et événements parallèles auxquels assister et participer. Notre délégation -moi-même: Anna Stavdal, présidente élue; Garth Manning, PDG; Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, agent de liaison WONCA-OMS- avait un programme rempli de réunions.
Del presidente: Asamblea Mundial de la Salud
La Asamblea Mundial de la Salud (World Health Assembly, WHA) fue un momento de actividad frenética, con encuentros y eventos paralelos a los que asistir y en los que participar. La delegación de la WONCA estaba constituida por mí, por la Presidenta electa Anna Stavdal, por el CEO Garth Manning y por la persona de contacto de la WONCA con la OMS, Viviana Martínez-Bianchi, y tuvimos una agenda especialmente llena. Nos encontramos, de forma individual y en grupo, con representantes de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y otras agencias y organizaciones, representantes todas ellas de una amplia gama de intereses.
From the President: Keeping it in the (WONCA) family
As President-Elect, I had two years in which to plan how I wanted my presidency to look and to decide how it should operate. I realised very early in the process, that WONCA is truly blessed with the range and depth of knowledge within the organisation. There is a huge amount of institutional knowledge and expertise among those who have been Presidents in the past, and those who have served on WONCA Executive.
Du président: WONCA, une affaire de famille
A chaque séance du Conseil mondial, nous élisons un nouveau comité directeur qui poursuivra le travail de l’organisation pour le mandat à suivre. Historiquement, ce mandat était d’une durée de trois ans, mais à la réunion de 2013 le conseil a voté pour le réduire à deux ans. WONCA est bien servi par ses membres enthousiastes et actifs, allant de nos groupes de travail et groupes d’intérêts spéciaux à nos rôles de premier plan au sein de l’exécutif.
Del Presidente: Manteniendo la energía en la familia de WONCA
En cada reunión del Consejo Mundial de la WONCA elegimos a un nuevo Ejecutivo para hacerse cargo del trabajo de la organización para el próximo periodo. Históricamente, este mandato ha sido de tres años, hasta que, en 2013, el Consejo votó reducir el mandato y que fuera de dos años.
Du président : Avril 2019
Tout président de WONCA a un avantage dans l’une ou l’autre partie du monde selon son lieu de naissance, la (les) langue(s) qu’il parle, l’endroit où il exerce et là où il vit. Nous utilisons nos avantages particuliers pour influencer l’adoption d’une médecine familiale de qualité au niveau mondial -mais nous les utilisons aussi pour exercer notre influence au niveau local.
From the President: April 2019
Each WONCA President has an advantage in one part of the world or another depending on where they were born, what language(s) they speak, where they practice, and where they live. We use the advantages we have to help influence the uptake of and quality of family medicine globally – but we also use any advantage we have to influence things closer to home as well.
Del presidente: Abril 2019
Todos los presidentes de la WONCA tienen ventaja en función de en qué parte del mundo provienen, dependiendo de dónde nacieron, de qué idioma hablan, de dónde realizan su prática médica y de dónde viven. Todos utilizamos las ventajas que tenemos para ayudar a influir en la aceptación y la calidad de la medicina familiar a nivel global, pero también nos servimos de todas las ventajas de las que disponemos para influir en las cuestiones que ocurren lo más cerca posible de nuestros hogares.
From the President: Building our influence
After the WHO Executive Board, in January, and the signing of our landmark MOU with WHO, we are now into the process of discussing and agreeing with our WHO colleagues what we can usefully work on together, to further the primary care and family medicine agenda. The MOU acknowledges the key role played by family doctors globally in the delivery of primary health care.
Del presidente : Construyendo nuestra influencia
Tras la reunión de la Ejecutiva de la OMS del pasado mes de enero, y la firma de nuestro marco de referencia basado en nuestro Memorándum de Entendimiento (MOU) con la Organización Mundial de la Salud, ahora mismo nos encontramos en el proceso de debatir y acordar con el resto de nuestros colegas de la OMS en qué podemos trabajar de forma conjunta, con el fin de profundizar más en la agenda de la Atención Primaria y la Medicina de Familia.
From the President: Lunar New Year message
WONCA is a big family: fellow members from different places of the world celebrate their New Year’s Day at different times. As a home-grown Chinese from Hong Kong, Lunar New Year (or Chinese New Year) is always my favourite festival.
Du président : Message pour le Nouvel An lunaire
WONCA est une grande famille: nos confrères et consœurs de différents endroits du monde fêtent le Jour de l’An à des dates différentes. En tant qu’autochtone de Hong Kong, mon festival préféré est celui de la nouvelle année lunaire (ou Nouvel An chinois).
Del Presidente: Mensaje del Nuevo Año Lunar
La WONCA es una gran familia: miembros y amigos de todos los sitios del mundo celebran su Fin de Año en momentos muy distintos. Dado que yo he crecido dentro de la cultura china de Hong-Kong, para mi, el Año Nuevo Lunar (popularmente conocido como el Año Nuevo Chino) siempre ha sido mi festividad favorita.
Du président : Janvier 2019
La période de décembreest sans doute une période de vacances pour certains, mais pas pour WONCA! Nous avons été plus occupés que jamais. A la suite de la conférence d’Astana, nous avons continué notre relation avec l’OMS en vue de nos engagements auprès d’eux et du développement de nouvelles collaborations sur toute une gamme de questions.
Del presidente : Enero 2019
Es probable que el próximo periodo entre diciembre y enero sea una época de vacaciones para algunos o algunas, pero ¡no para la WONCA! Nosotros estamos más ocupados que nunca. Tras el Congreso de Astaná hemos continuado estrechando nuestra relación con la Organización Mundial de la Salud para seguir revisando nuestro compromiso con ellos y desarrollar mayores colaboraciones en toda una serie de problemáticas pendientes.
From the President January 2019
December might be holiday season for some but not for WONCA! We have been busier than ever. After the Astana conference, we have continued to liaise closely with WHO to review our engagement with them, and to develop further collaborations on a range of issues. There has been significant progress in terms of recognition of the importance of family medicine to achieve the goal of Universal Health Coverage.
Des de mi punto de vista – Donald Li, Presidente de WONCA
Durante mi inauguración como Presidente prometí, entre otras cosas, continuar defendiendo la Medicina de Familia como un elemento esencial para conseguir la Cobertura Universal de Salud y un sistema sanitario coste-efectivo fuerte. La Declaración de Astana dejó muy claro que todavía queda mucho trabajo por hacer.
In my view ... Donald Li
At my inauguration as President I promised, among other things, to continue to advocate for family medicine as essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage and strong cost-effective health systems. The Astana Declaration made it clear that there is still much to be done for professionally qualified primary care teams to be recognised and acknowledged as the backbone of the primary care delivery system in every country.
Our new President - Dr Donald Li
Dr Donald Li, a Hong Kong-Chinese family doctor, has taken over the reins as President of WONCA. In addition to his work as a busy family doctor, Dr Li is involved in national and international policy making; he was the first family doctor elected as the President of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine between 2012 – 2016.
From the President : the final column
This will be my last news as President, which feels very strange! I would like to thank all our members for their support for family medicine, and for WONCA. Soon we shall host our World Council and World conference in Seoul in South Korea, where we shall have much business to discuss.
De la presidenta – la última columna
Esta será mi última columna como Presidenta, ¡lo que me hace sentir muy extraña! Me gustaría dar las gracias a todos los miembros de la WONCA por su apoyo a la Medicina de Familia, y por su trabajo en la WONCA.
De la présidente : la dernière lettre
Ceci sera ma dernière lettre en tant que présidente, sentiment étrange. Je voudrais remercier tous nos membres pour leur soutien de la médecine familiale et de WONCA.
From the President: New Zealand, Singapore and Quality
In early August I returned from a very enjoyable trip to the Royal New Zealand College of GPs (RNZCGP) who invited me to their annual conference and on the way home I also visited our colleagues in Singapore. This is the third time I have been to New Zealand, and the second time to the RNZCGP. I was struck by the major developments in ‘upscaling’ of general practice there over the last five years.
De la présidente : Nouvelle Zélande et Singapour
Je suis rentrée début août d’un agréable voyage au Royal New Zealand College of GPs (RNZCGP) où j’avais été invitée à la conférence annuelle et, en chemin, j’ai également rendu visite à nos collègues de Singapour.
De la presidenta – Nueva Zelanda y Singapur.
A principios de agosto volví de un viaje que disfruté mucho durante el cual pude visitar el Real Colegio de Médicos de Familia de Nueva Zelanda (Royal New Zealand College of GPs, RNZCGP), tras aceptar su invitación para asistir al Congreso anual y, de vuelta a casa, también pasé a visitar a nuestros colegas en Singapur.
From the President: August 2018
We all need to thank each other this month – which is the start of a new financial and academic year for some, a well-earned holiday period for others, and a really really busy time for the WONCA leadership and Secretariat as we run towards the Seoul conference and the WHO meeting in Astana.
De la presidenta – Agosto 2018
Todos y todas debemos darnos las gracias mutuamente este mes de agosto, el mes en el que comienza un nuevo año fiscal y, para algunos y algunas, un nuevo año académico. Agosto también es el inicio de un periodo de vacaciones muy merecidas para otros colegas, y un verdadero (muy verdadero) comienzo de periodo ajetreado por parte de los directivos de WONCA y su secretariado mientras nos acercamos al Congreso de Seúl y al encuentro de la Organización Mundial de la Salud en Astana.
From the President: July 2018
The governance of a global network organization like WONCA is a huge and unusual challenge. Our Council meets only once every two years - many members are new, and attend Council only once in their careers. Indeed the President only chairs WONCA Council once in their tenure! Executive will account there for the financial situation, and make proposals based on predictions for what is needed to help WONCA survive and thrive.
De la Presidenta: Julio 2018
Estas últimas semanas, la WONCA ha estado bastante tranquila en términos de encuentros, mientras se va acercando el Congreso Mundial de Seúl, el próximo mes de octubre.
De la Presidenta: 40 años de Alma Ata – nuestra oportunidad es ahora
En la Organización Mundial de la Salud, experimentamos un nuevo nivel de acceso de WONCA, con la invitación que se hizo a la Presidencia de WONCA Mundial para que nos uniéramos al Grupo Asesor Internacional que está coordinando las actividades del 40 Aniversario de Alma Ata, y algunos de nuestros colegas académicos tuvieron la oportunidad de involucrarse en el desarrollo de documentos técnicos para el programa de trabajo AA40 (Alma Ata 40)
President's letter to Member Organizations June 7, 2018
The WONCA President has written to Member Organizations encouraging them to take up a major opportunity in the next four months to influence the World Health Organization’s strategy for strengthening primary health care over the next 10 years. It is the fortieth Anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration, and a new Declaration is expected in October. Family medicine needs to be part of that new Declaration.
From the President: Alma Ata 40 – our chance is now
May was a very busy month – starting with a very enjoyable and informative trip to visit our members in the Caribbean College of Family Physicians; then the World Health Assembly in Geneva; followed by the WONCA Europe conference in Krakow; and then our WONCA World Executive in Warsaw! We celebrated World Family Doctor Day on 19 May – which gives another important opportunity to recognise your hard work and achievements!
From the President – May 2018
I am writing this from an intense energetic conference in Nigeria, hosted by one of our member organisations - the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN). This is my first visit to West Africa during my Presidency, having managed countries in North, South and East Africa already. The other equally intense and impressive overseas experience was the IberoAmericana Cumbre and conference in Colombia.
De la presidenta – Mayo 2018
Estoy escribiendo este artículo desde un intenso y enérgico Congreso en Nigeria, organizado por parte de una de nuestras organizaciones miembro – la Asociación de Médicos Generalistas Públicos y Privados de Nigeria. Esta es la primera vez que visito el oeste de África.
De la présidente : Mai 2018
J’écris depuis la conférence du Nigeria, conférence intense et énergique présentée par l’une de nos organisations membres - Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN). Ceci est ma première visite en Afrique occidentale au cours de mon mandat.
De la Presidenta – Abril 2018
He estado en dos congresos regionales – el de la Región del Mediterráneo Este, en Kuwait, y en la cumbre y el congreso de IberoAmérica, en Colombia – y también he visitado Algeria para asistir a la cumbre de alto nivel organizada por parte de la organización local miembro de WONCA. En Kuwait City, visitié la clínica Al-Yamouk,
De la présidente : Avril 2018
J’ai assisté à deux conférences régionales -le congrès de la région Méditerranée orientale au Koweït, le sommet ibero-americain et la conférence en Colombie- je me suis aussi rendue en Algérie pour assister à un sommet de haut niveau organisé par l’organisation membre du pays. A Koweït-city, j’ai visité la clinique Al-Yamouk
From the President: April 2018
I have been to two regional conferences – the East Mediterranean Region congress, in Kuwait, and the IberoAmericana cumbre and conference, in Columbia - as well as visiting Algeria to attend a high level summit organised by the local member organisation. In Kuwait City, I visited the Al-Yamouk Clinic
From the President: March 2018
Meeting together across our global community is a really important means of sharing good practice, encouraging mutual support and professional development, and creating and maintaining formal policy and processes. I do hope that as many people as possible will attend at least one WONCA conference this year, and that we particularly succeed in gathering our global community together in South Korea
De la Présidente - Mars 2018
Nos rencontres internationales sont un véritable moyen de partager les bonnes pratiques, d’encourager le soutien mutuel et la formation continue et de créer et maintenir des politiques et processus formels. J’espère que le plus grand nombre possible de membres assisteront au moins à l’une de nos conférences cette année
De la presidenta – Marzo 2018
Que nuestra comunidad global pueda reunirse en todo el mundo es una forma realmente importante de compartir buenas prácticas, alentar el apoyo mutuo y el desarrollo profesional, y crear y mantener políticas y procesos formales. Espero que el mayor número de gente posible asista a, por lo menos, una conferencia de WONCA este año, y que tengamos éxito a la hora de reunir a nuestra comunidad global en Corea del Sur, en octubre.
From the President: February 2018
Whether we speak of love, new opportunities, or traditions and festivals, we know that life with its annual cycle is both predictable and uncertain. For most of us, we look back on a year at its end and are grateful if no major griefs or losses have occurred; and we recognise the joys and sorrows of those around us. It is a poignant time to think of those without homes or hearths...
De la Présidente - Février 2018
Que nous parlions d’amour, de nouvelles opportunités ou de traditions et festivals, nous savons que la vie, suivant son cycle annuel, est à la fois prévisible et incertaine. Pour la plupart d’entre nous, nous revisitons l’année à sa fin et sommes reconnaissants de n’avoir subi ni chagrin ni perte majeure et reconnaissons les joies et les peines de ceux qui nous entourent. C’est un moment poignant quand on pense à tous ceux qui sont sans abris ou foyers ...
De la presidenta – Febrero 2018
Tanto si hablamos del amor, de las nuevas oportunidades, como de las tradiciones y las festividades, sabemos que la vida con su ciclo anual es tan predecible como incierta. Muchos de nosotros, miramos atrás y vemos un año y que ha llegado a su fin y nos sentimos agradecidos porque no hayan sucedido más desastres; y reconocemos las felicidades y las tristezas de todos aquellos de nuestro entorno. En estos días es conmovedor pensar en todas aquellas personas que no tiene casa ni corazones ...
From the President: December 2017
As the Western calendar year draws to a close, I hope this finds you well and that family medicine is thriving in your country. On behalf of all of us in the WONCA World Executive and Secretariat, I want to wish you and your families a peaceful and successful year ahead for 2018.
De la Présidente - décembre 2017
Alors que le calendrier occidental touche à sa fin, j’espère que cette lettre vous trouvera en bonne forme et que le monde de la médecine se porte bien dans votre pays. Au nom de nous tous au comité de direction et au secrétariat de WONCA, je vous souhaite, à vous et vos familles, une excellente nouvelle année dans la paix pour 2018.
De la Presidenta - diciembre 2017
Mientras las fechas especiales del calendario occidental se acercan, espero que estas lleguen a vosotros y a vosotras en un buen momento y que la Medicina de Familia se encuentre en una situación próspera en vuestros países. En nombre de todos nosotros y del Ejecutivo y Secretariado de WONCA, quiero desearos a todos y todas y a vuestras familias un exitoso y pacífico nuevo año 2018.
From the President - November 2017
WONCA President Amanda Howe visits Lebanon: Tahaddi clinic is next to one of the main Palestinian refugee camps, and provides health services to a population who live mostly in shanty housing. Over 65% of these patients are Syrian refugees, while the remaining 35% are Lebanese residents of the area.
De la Presidenta – Noviembre 2017
Uno de los muchos retos de ser médica de familia es el hecho de intentar reconciliar las diferentes visiones del mundo. Como médica de familia, la tensión se produce a menudo entre mis propias creencias acerca de lo que es mejor para el paciente, lo que puede hacer posible el sistema y su visión del mundo.
De la présidente : Novembre 2017
La présidente visite La Liban. La clinique Tahaddi avoisine l’un des principaux camps de réfugiés palestiniens et apporte ses services sanitaires à une population vivant essentiellement dans des bidonvilles. Plus de 65% de ces patients sont des réfugiés syriens et les 35 % restant sont des résidents libanais locaux.
De la présidente : Octobre 2017
L’un des plus grands privilèges du poste de directrice de WONCA est que je rencontre, autour du monde, de nombreux collègues qui se consacrent à la médecine familiale à tous niveaux.
From the President - October 2017
One of the wonderful privileges of being a WONCA leader is seeing the many colleagues worldwide who are committed to family medicine in all its stages and settings. The very successful regional Africa conference in Pretoria celebrated progress in our most challenged region, including presentations from countries such as Malawi and Ethiopia who are at the earliest stages of family medicine development.
De la Presidenta: octubre 2017
Uno de los privilegios más maravillosos de estar en esta posición como Presidenta de WONCA es el de poder conocer a muchos colegas en todo el mundo que están comprometidos con la Medicina de Familia y sus especialistas en todos los estadios y ámbitos.
From the President: September 2017
Networks, opportunities and prioritisation – does enthusiasm need to be balanced with realism? - The President has been in Tanzania at both the Aga Khan University and meeting with the International Federation of Medical Student Associations.
From the President - August 2017
My only overseas trip since the last news was to the excellent WONCA Europe conference in Prague, and I am about to make trips to Africa – to Tanzania, and to the regional conference in South Africa. In Tanzania, I shall be the guest of one of our ‘organisations in collaboration’, the International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA), with whom we want to work closely to promote the profile of family medicine.
De la Presidenta – Agosto 2017
Mi único viaje al extranjero desde la última vez que escribí fue el que hice para asistir al excelente Congreso de WONCA Europa en Praga, y en ese momento estoy a punto de hacer una serie de viajes en África, Tanzania, y al Congreso regional en Sud África. En Tanzania, voy a ser una invitada de una de nuestras “organizaciones colaboradoras”, la Federación Internacional de Estudiantes de Medicina (IFMSA),
De la Présidente -Août 2017
Mon seul voyage à l’étranger depuis la dernière lettre a été à Prague pour l’excellente conférence européenne de WONCA. Je m’apprête maintenant à voyager en Afrique -en Tanzanie, et également à la conférence régionale en Afrique du Sud.
From the President: July 2017
WONCA President, Amanda Howe provides her views on recent sad events in her country, the World Health Assembly attendace by a WONCA delegation and World Family Doctor Day.
De la Présidente - Juillet 2017
Mon activité principale depuis ma dernière lettre a été d’assister à l’Assemblée mondiale de la santé auprès de l’OMS -préparation, participation puis nombreuses possibilités d’action à suivre.
De la Presidenta - Julio 2017
Entre las muchas actividades a las que he asistido desde la última vez que escribí he asistido a la Asamblea de la Organización Mundial de la Salud – en una primera fase preparándola, mientras duró participando en muchas actividades, y después, aprovechando las oportunidades y acciones que provocará.
From the President: June 2017
Since I last wrote, we have had the WONCA Rural Conference in Cairns Australia, the World Health Assembly in Geneva, and World Family Doctor Day. We have also continued the work of Executive in the different regions, seen some new members and had news from many different areas of new and exciting developments in family medicine.
De la Presidenta : junio 2017
Desde la última vez que escribí, hemos tenido el Congreso de WONCA Rural en Cairns (Australia), la Asamblea Mundial de Salud en Ginebra y el Día Internacional de la Medicina de Familia y del Médico de Familia. También hemos continuado trabajando en el Ejecutivo acerca de diferentes regiones, vistos algunos de los nuevos miembros (¡Bienvenida Indonesia a la familia de WONCA!), y hemos recibido noticias desde muy diferentes áreas acerca de los progresos que está haciendo la Medicina de Familia.
De la Presidenta : Día Mundial de la Medicina de Familia
El 19 de mayo es nuestro día especial del año, es el día en el que nos recordamos a nosotros mismos y al resto del mundo que nuestro trabajo merece tanto reconocimiento como celebración. Muchas de nuestras organizaciones miembro lo planean con antelación, y sus eventos aparecen en el sitio web de WONCA para que todos y todas podamos disfrutarlos y compartirlos
De la Présidente - Juin 2017
Depuis mon dernier rapport, il y a eu la Conférence rurale de WONCA à Cairns en Australie, l’Assemblée mondiale de la santé à Genève et la Journée mondiale du médecin de famille. Nous avons également continué le travail du comité directeur en diverses régions, nous avons rencontré quelques nouveaux membres (bienvenue à l’Indonésie dans la famille WONCA!), et nous avons reçu des nouvelles de nombreuses régions où d’incroyables nouveaux développements en médecine familiale prennent place.
President's message for World Family Doctor Day
May 19th is our special day of the year, where we remind ourselves and the rest of the world that our work deserves recognition and celebration... I hope you will all be proud of the great work you do for patients, and feel part of our big family doctor community, as we mark the occasion together.
From the President: May 2017
Prioritising people’s needs – four thoughts on equity from this month’s WONCA business: - A busy month in April / early May – I attended a conference as a keynote speaker, in Tunisia run by the ‘Towards Unity for Health’ (TUFH) network; then went to Palestine to the first conference of their new family medicine association.
Du Président - mai 2017
Avril et début mai a été une période bien remplie: j’ai assisté en tant qu’intervenante principale à une conférence proposée par le réseau « Towards Unity for Health » (TUFH) en Tunisie. Je me suis ensuite rendue en Palestine pour la première conférence de la nouvelle association de médecine familiale, immédiatement suivie par la conférence du Rural Working Party à Cairns en Australie.
De la Presidenta - mayo 217
Este mes de abril y principios de mayo está siendo un mes muy ajetreado. En primer lugar, participé como ponente en un congreso en Turquía organizado por la red “Hacia la Unidad en Salud”. Después pasé por Palestina para asistir al primer congreso de su nueva Asociación de Medicina de Familia. Mis viajes continuaron con un Congreso de Medicina Rural en Cairns, Australia
De la Presidenta - abril 2017
Conservo unos recuerdos muy intensos acerca del Congreso de China que ha sido impresionante y que me animan un poco - acabo de asistir al encuentro de la organización miembro de WONCA llamada Cross Straits (Entre Estrechos) en Xiamen, que ha reunido a más de 2.000 delegados. Hace dos semanas me estuve en un encuentro de la Región Mediterránea Oriental en Abu Dhabi, que será también la sede del Congreso de WONCA Mundial del próximo 2020. Este fue un encuentro fantástico.
Du Président - avril 2017
Il me reste les souvenirs de la conférence extraordinaire de Chine pour me remonter le moral -je viens d’assister, à Xiamen, à la réunion de l’organisation membre de Cross Straits qui comptait plus de 2000 délégués et a attiré de nombreux conférenciers au niveau ministériel. Il y a deux semaines, j'étais à notre réunion régionale de Méditerranée orientale à Abu Dhabi où aura lieu la conférence mondiale de 2020. La réunion d’Abu Dhabi était également excellente,
From the President; April 2017
I have just attended the Cross Straits member organisation meeting in Xiamen, which had more than 2000 delegates and attracted a number of ministerial level keynote speakers. Two weeks ago I was at our Eastern Mediterranean regional meeting in Abu Dhabi, which will also host the global conference in 2020. This was also a wonderful meeting.
From the President: March 2017
I attended the Executive Board of WHO in late January with Dr Manning. Much of the Assembly was preoccupied with the election of the next Secretary General, which will occur in May 2017. There were several items on the agenda where we gave statements on behalf of WONCA - on workforce, and also migrant health.
De la Presidenta – Marzo 2017
A finales de enero fui al Consejo Ejecutivo de la Organización Mundial de la Salud con el Doctor Manning. Buena parte de la Asamblea estaba preocupada acerca de la elección del nuevo Secretario General, que tendrá lugar en mayo de 2017. De todos modos, hubo diversos elementos en la agenda en la que pusimos puntos en común en nombre de WONCA – también en el ámbito personal – tanto en lo referente al personal sanitario como a los inmigrantes sanitarios, puesto que para ambos de ellos ya disponemos de una política disponible.
Du Président mars 2017
J’ai assisté au Conseil d’administration de l’OMS (Organisation mondiale de la Santé) fin janvier en compagnie de Dr Manning. La préoccupation principale de l’Assemblée concernait l’élection du prochain Secrétaire Général qui aura lieu en mai 2017. Plusieurs autres points à l’ordre du jour nous ont permis de faire des déclarations au nom de WONCA –sur le personnel et sur la santé des migrants, sujets pour lesquels nous avons déjà établi des politiques.
From the President: Behind the scenes
Life as the new President has been quiet geographically but busy online. There is an odd tension between leadership and service, where the responsibility to ‘keep moving and improving’ is set against the ordinary repetitions of daily life. In fact, as family doctors our most important work is that which we do again and again, in our consulting rooms and clinics, with patients and colleagues
Du Président: En coulisse
Ma vie de nouvelle présidente a été calme géographiquement mais mouvementée en ligne. Il y a une tension étrange entre leadership et service avec la responsabilité de faire avancer les choses et de les améliorer sur la toile de fond des routines ordinaires de la vie quotidienne. En fait, en tant que médecins de famille, notre travail le plus important est ce que nous faisons continuellement, dans nos salles de consultation et nos cliniques, avec patients et collègues
De La Presidenta: Entre bastidores
La vida como nueva Presidenta de WONCA ha sido, de momento, bastante tranquila desde un punto de vista geográfico, pero bastante ajetreada en la red. Existe una extraña tensión entre liderazgo y servicio, mediante la cual la responsabilidad de “seguir moviéndose y seguir mejorando” es lo que está establecido para luchar contra las repeticiones de la rutina diaria. En realidad, como médicos y médicas de familia, nuestro trabajo más importante es el que hacemos una y otra vez, en nuestras consultas y clínicas, con nuestros pacientes y colegas.
La première présidente - une vue personnelle du monde de Rio
Professeur Amanda Howe vient de prendre ses fonctions en tant que Présidente de WONCA et première femme à ce poste. La passation des pouvoirs a eu lieu à la Conférence mondiale de WONCA à Rio au début novembre 2016. Voici, de Rio, sa vision personnelle du monde.
La primera mujer Presidenta: Un punto de vista persona de Río de Janeiro
La Profesora Amanda Howe del Reino Unido ha asumido el cargo de Presidenta de WONCA, y será nuestra primera mujer presidente. La toma de posesión tuvo lugar en el Congreso mundial de WONCA en Río de Janeiro a prinicpios de este noviembre de 2016. Compartimos aquí su visión personal del Congreso de Río.
From the President: final reflections
This is my final report to you as WONCA President and so I would like to share with you some reflections on the huge amount of work that is carried out by WONCA and our dedicated family doctor members and supporters all around the world.
Du Président: réflexions finales
Voici mon rapport final en ma qualité de président de WONCA et je voudrais donc partager quelques réflexions sur l'énorme quantité de travaux menés à bien par WONCA et nos membres médecins de famille ainsi que par nos supporters à travers le monde.
Del Presidente: últimas palabras
Estas son las últimas palabras que os dedico como Presidente de WONCA y es por eso que me gustaría compartir con vosotros algunas reflexiones acerca de la gran cantidad de trabajo que WONCA lleva a cabo y sobre la dedicación de todos los profesionales de la Medicina de Familia en todo el mundo.
From the President Pioneering Family Medicine Training in the South Pacific
The Cook Islands Fellowship in General Practice training program aims to create a workforce of well-trained family doctors to serve the future health care needs of the people of the Cook Islands, and is part of a wonderful collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education in the Cook Islands, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and New Zealand’s University of Otago.
Del Presidente : Liderando la Medicina de Familia en el Sur del Pacífico
El programa formativo de la Comunidad de las Islas Cook de Práctica Generalista tiene la voluntad de crear un personal de médicos de familia con una buena formación para dar cobertura a las futuras necesidades de la Asistencia Sanitaria de la población de las Islas Cook, y forma parte de una estrecha colaboración entre el Ministerio de Sanidad y el Ministerio de Educación de las Islas Cook, el Real Colegio de Nueva Zelanda de Médicos Generalistas, y la Universidad de Nueva Zelanda de Otago.
Du président: Approche innovatrice de la formation en médecine familiale dans le Pacifique sud
Le programme de formation de l'Association de médecine générale des Iles Cook vise à créer une main d'oeuvre de médecins de famille bien formés pour servir les futurs besoins en soins de santé des habitants des Iles Cook et représente une excellente collaboration entre le Ministère de la santé et le Ministère de l'éducation des Iles Cook, le Royal College of General Practitioners de Nouvelle Zélande, ainsi que l'université néo-zélandaise d'Otago.
From the President
Singapore and the Sustainable Development Goals
The recognition of family medicine as a specialty matters. We want our medical graduates to become family doctors by choice, not by accident... I was reminded by college president, Associate Professor Lee Kheng Hock, that family medicine is not yet recognized as a medical specialty in Singapore.
Du président: Singapour et les Objectifs du Développement Durable
Cette identification de la médecine familiale comme spécialité est importante. Nous devons montrer aux meilleurs étudiants en médecine de toute nation que les soins de santé primaires au niveau de la communauté sont un choix de carrière viable et louable et nous devons les encourager à nous joindre dans cette carrière. Lee Kheng Hock, professeur agrégé et président du collège, a rappelé que la médecine familiale n'est pas encore reconnue comme spécialité médicale à Singapour.
Del Presidente : Singapur y los Objetivos de Crecimiento Sostenible
El hecho de reconocer la Medicina de Familia como una especialidad es importante. Es necesario que los mejores estudiantes de Medicina y los más brillantes de todos los países perciban la Atención Primaria y la asistencia Comunitaria como una carrera estimulante y que vale la pena, y que se nos unan en la especialidad Familiar y Comunitaria... El colega Presidente y Profesor Asociado, Lee Kheng Hock, me recordó que la Medicina Familiar todavía no es una especialidad médica reconocida en Singapur.
From the President: Family medicine in the Middle East
I recently visited Saudi Arabia as a member of a World Health Organization mission. We had been invited to review primary health care across the country. This visit allowed me to witness the changes underway in a country that has firmly adopted a policy of strengthening primary health care through a family practice model.
From the President: Family Medicine in Costa Rica
I was in Costa Rica to participate in the 6th Iberoamericana Family and Community Medicine Summit (Cumbre in Spanish), hosted in the capital city, San José, by the Association of Family and Community Medicine of Costa Rica, and our WONCA Iberoamericana CIMF Region, which includes the Spanish speaking nations of Central and South America, as well as Brazil, Portugal and Spain
Du président: Médecine familiale au Costa Rica
J' étais au Costa Rica pour participer au 6ème sommet ibéro-américain de médecine familiale et communautaire (Cumbre en espagnol), tenu dans la capitale San José, par l'association de médecine familiale et de médecine Communautaire du Costa Rica et de la région ibéro-américaine de WONCA CIMF, qui inclut les nations de langue espagnole d'Amérique Centrale et d'Amérique du Sud, ainsi que le Brésil, le Portugal et l'Espagne.
Del Presidente : Medicina de Familia y Cobertura Universal de Salud en Costa Rica
Estuve en Costa Rica participando en la 6ª Cumbre Iberoamericana de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria que tuvo lugar en la capital del país, San José, organizada conjuntamente por la Asociación de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria de Costa Rica y por nuestra Región WONCA CIMF Iberoamericana, en la que se encuentran los países de habla española de la América Central, así como Brasil, Portugal y España.
From the President
Family Medicine transformation continues in China
This was my 8th visit to the People’s Republic of China since I became WONCA president in May 2013. WONCA has a long history of supporting our colleagues in China in the development of family medicine, dating back to the work commenced in the 1980s by past WONCA president, Dr Peter Lee, from Hong Kong.
Del Presidente: La Transformación de la Medicina de Familia continua en China
Esta fue mi octava visita a la República Popular de la China desde que me convertí en Presidente de WONCA en mayo de 2013. WONCA tiene una larga historia de apoyo a los colegas chinos en el desarrollo de la Medicina Familiar, anterior del trabajo que empezó en los años ochenta por parte del anterior Presidente de WONCA, el Doctor Peter Lee, de Hong Kong.
Du président: La transformation de la médecine familiale continue en Chine
C'était ma 8ème visite en République populaire de Chine depuis ma nomination à la présidence de WONCA en mai 2013. WONCA s'est forgé une longue histoire dans le soutien des collègues de Chine en ce qui concerne le développement de la médecine familiale, depuis le travail débuté dans les années 80 par l'ancien président de WONCA, Dr Peter Lee de Hong Kong.
From the President
Family Medicine transformation continues in China
Shenzhen is one of the miracles of modern China. Prior to 1979 it was a small market town. In that year it was established as the first Special Economic Zone in China, opening up opportunities for rapid foreign investment. It became one of the fastest growing cities in the world and now has a population of over 10 million people and a reputation for innovation and “leading the way”.
Du président: Développement de la médecine familiale en Asie du Sud
WONCA Asie du Sud a tenu sa conférence annuelle à Colombo au Sri Lanka en février. Plus de 600 médecins de famille du Sri Lanka, d'Inde, du Pakistan, du Bangladesh, du Bhutan et des Maldives se sont joints à des collègues de nombreuses autres nations afin de partager leurs expériences en soins cliniques, en éducation et formation, et en recherche.
Del Presidente: Los progresos de la Medicina Familiar en Asia del Sur
Nuestra región de WONCA Asia del Sur organizó su conferencia anual en Colombo, Sri Lanka, el pasado mes de febrero. Más de 600 médicos de familia de Sri Lanka, India, Pakistán, Bangladesh, Bután y las Maldivas coincidieron con colegas de muchos otros países de todo el mundo, para compartir sus experiencias en la Clínica Práctica, Educación y Formación e Investigación.
From the President Family Medicine developments in South Asia
Our WONCA South Asia Region held its annual conference in Colombo in Sri Lanka in February. Over 600 family doctors from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives, joined together with colleagues from many other nations around the world, to share experiences in clinical care, education and training, and research.
Del Presidente: La reforma de la Medicina de Familia en Vietnam
El Doctor Tran Trong Thong es un médico de familia en la región rural de Soc Sun en Vietnam, al norte de la capital, Hanoi. El Centro de Salud Comuna Soc Sun, donde trabaja el Doctor Tran, ofrece ambos servicios de atención curativa y preventiva a una comunidad rural dispersa de 20.000 personas. El Doctor Tran lidera un equipo de Atención Primaria de la salud, que incluye enfermeras, comadronas, asistentes médicos y un farmacéutico...
Du président : Réforme de la médecine familiale au Vietnam
Dr Tran Trong est médecin de famille au Vietnam dans la zone rurale de Soc Sun, située au nord de la capitale Hanoï. Le centre médical communautaire de Soc Sun où travaille Dr Tran assure des services de soins curatifs et préventifs à une communauté rurale dispersée de 20.000 personnes. Dr Tran dirige une équipe de soins de santé primaires, qui compte des infirmières, des sages-femmes, des médecins auxiliaires et un pharmacien...
From the President: Family Medicine Reform in Vietnam
Dr Tran Trong Thong is a family doctor in the rural region of Soc Sun in Vietnam, north of the capital city of Hanoi. The Soc Sun Commune Health Station, where Dr Tran works, provides both curative and preventive care services to a dispersed rural community of 20,000 people. Dr Tran leads a primary health care team, which includes nurses, midwives, assistant doctors and a pharmacist..
From the President: Lessons from a great family doctor
Ian McWhinney was a family doctor from the UK who moved to Canada in 1967 to establish the Department of Family Medicine at Western University in Ontario. Ian influenced the careers and the attitudes of family doctors in many parts of the world.
Del Presidente: Lecciones de un gran médico de familia
Ian McWhinney influyó en las carreras y las actitudes de los médicos de familia en muchas partes del mundo, y fue uno de los líderes pioneros del desarrollo de la base académica de nuestra disciplina profesional. Ian murió en 2012 a la edad de 85 años.
Du président: Leçons d'un grand médecin de famille
Ian McWhinney a influencé les carrières et les attitudes des médecins de famille dans beaucoup de régions du monde, et il fut l'un des pionniers du développement de la base universitaire de notre discipline professionnelle.
From the President: Family Medicine reforms in Central Asia
I was in Kyrgyzstan, accompanied by WONCA president-elect, Amanda Howe, and WONCA Europe President, Job Metsemakers, for the nation’s first congress of general practitioners and family physicians, hosted by the Minister of Health and the leadership of the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy. Kyrgyzstan, like many countries in Central Asia, is facing a new round of health system reform, based on family medicine and strengthening primary health care.
Del Presidente: Reformas en la Medicina de Familia en Asia Central
Yo estaba en Kirguistán, acompañado de la presidenta electa de WONCA Amanda Howe y del Presidente de WONCA Europa Job Metsemakers, en motivo del primer Congreso que se hacía en el país de profesionales y médicos generalistas, organizado por el Ministerio de Salud y la dirección de la Academia de Medicina del Gobierno de Kirguistán.
From the President: Perspectives on Iran
This was an interesting time to be in Iran, with the United Nations having recently announced a nuclear accord that could lead to the lifting of long-standing sanctions. I admit that I was a little nervous about visiting Iran, especially when told that I would have to undertake advanced security training through the United Nations. Once in Iran, I felt welcome and safe.
From the President: WONCA and the new UN Sustainable Development Goals
As a frequent visitor to Brazil and other countries in Central and South America over the past few years, I am very impressed by the work our WONCA member organisations are doing in this part of the world, especially to ensure both quality and equity in family medicine for the people of this region of the world.
From the President: The World Bank, Romania & ICPC… read on
I was in Romania in June to deliver the opening address at the 2015 World Psychiatric Association Congress. The visit provided me with the opportunity to meet with Sandra Alexiu and other family medicine colleagues in Romania and to discuss some of the challenges facing family medicine and the delivery of universal health coverage.
Del Presidente: El Banco Mundial, Rumanía y el ICPC… sigue leyendo
El pasado junio estuve en Rumaníapara pronunciar el discurso de bienvenida del Congreso de 2015 de la Asociación Mundial de Psiquiatría. La visita me dio la oportunidad de conocer a Sandra Alexiu y a otros colegas médicos de familia en el país y pudimos conversar sobre los retos de la medicina de familia y la cobertura sanitaria universal.
Del Presidente: La Medicina de Familia en la Región Mediterránea Oriental
La Región Mediterránea Oriental es la nueva región de WONCA, aunque la medicina de familia se instaló ahí hace ya mucho tiempo, tal y como nos demuestran los escritos del Antiguo Egipto. Esta nueva Región Mediterránea Oriental se extiende desde Marruecos, en el oeste, hasta Afganistán, incluyendo más de 20 países .
From the President
Family Medicine in the East Mediterranean Region
The WONCA East Mediterranean Region is WONCA’s newest region, but family medicine has been in this region for a very long time, as we have seen from the writings of Ancient Egypt. WONCA’s East Mediterranean region extends from Morocco in the west, to Afghanistan in the east, and includes over 20 countries.
Del presidente: Medicina de Familia en África
Estuve en Ghana, asistiendo al Cuarto Congreso Regional de WONCA para África, presidido por el Dr. Henry Lawson de Ghana, presidente electo de nuestra región WONCA de África. Originalmente, el Congreso había sido pospuesto debido a la crisis del Ébola.
From the President: Family Medicine in Africa
I was in Ghana attending WONCA’s 4th Africa Regional Conference. The conference was chaired by Dr Henry Lawson from Ghana, president-elect of our WONCA Africa Region.
Originally the conference had been postponed because of the Ebola crisis.
Del Presidente: Lecciones desde América Latina
La Organización regional Iberoamericana de WONCA fue fundada en 1981 por un pionero de la medicina de familia argentina, Julio Ceitlin. La organización reunió a las sociedades y colegios de medicina familiar en los países de la región y en 1996 fue nombrada como Confederación Iberoamericana de Medicina Familiar
From the President: Lessons from Latin America
WONCA’s Iberoamericana regional organisation was founded in 1981 by Argentine family medicine pioneer, Julio Ceitlin. The organization brought together societies and colleges of family medicine in the countries of the region and in 1996 was named the Confederacion Iberoamericana de Medicina Familiar.
Del Presidente: Lecciones de Cuba y Canadá
También me parece que muchos países ricos consiguen médicos y enfermeras en otros países para poder satisfacer las necesidades de salud de sus propias poblaciones cuando lo que deberían hacer es seguir el ejemplo de Cuba y formar a más profesionales de salud de los que necesitan, y hacer una contribución al resto del mundo ...Otro estado que marca una diferencia sustancial en la salud global a través del apoyo a la medicina de familia de todo el mundo es Canadá.
From the President: Lessons from Cuba and Canada
It also strikes me that while many wealthy nations source doctors and nurses from other countries to meet the health care needs of their populations, what they should be doing is following Cuba’s example and training more health care professionals than they need and making a net contribution to the rest of the world ...
Another country making a substantial difference to global health through supporting family medicine developments around the world is Canada
Del Presidente: Reforma de la Atención Primaria de Salud en Finlandia
Me quedé impresionado al saber que los médicos generales finlandeses no solo mantienen todos sus registros médicos en los ordenadores, sino que también tienen acceso pleno al hospital y a los registros electrónicos de otros médicos especialistas, con los resultados de radiología y patología ordenados en cualquier parte del país. Este es un logro que queda fuera del alcance de muchos otros países desarrollados
From the President: Primary Health Care Reform in Finland
I was impressed to learn that Finnish general practitioners not only keep all their own medical records on computers but they also have access to full hospital and specialist electronic records and to radiology and pathology results ordered anywhere in the country. This is an achievement which remains beyond the reach of many other developed nations.
Strong family practice and universal health coverage in the Middle East
I was invited recently by the World Health Organization to assist the Oman Ministry of Health in a review of the rollout of that nation’s national primary health care strategy. The achievements of Oman over the past forty years in reforming the nation’s health care system, and tackling the major health care challenges facing its population of four million people, have been a remarkable success
Del Presidente : Medicina familiar fuerte y cobertura universal de salud en Oriente Medio
Fui invitado recientemente por la Organización Mundial de la Salud para ayudar al Ministerio de Sanidad de Omán en una revisión de la implantación de la estrategia de atención primaria de ese país. Los logros de Omán en los últimos cuarenta años en la reforma del sistema de salud del país y el afrontamiento de los grandes desafíos de atención que recibe su población de cuatro millones de personas han sido un éxito notable.
Del Presidente: Algo maravilloso en Dinamarca
Dinamarca es un país con un sistema envidiable de atención de salud, basado en una medicina familiar fuerte y una oferta de cobertura de salud universal. Fui invitado a visitar Dinamarca para hablar en el Congreso Anual del Colegio Danés de Médicos de Familia y tenía muchas ganas de aprender más sobre los éxitos y también los desafíos que enfrenta la práctica de la medicina de familia danesa.
From the President: Something wonderful in the state of Denmark
Denmark is a country with an enviable system of health care, based on strong family medicine and providing universal health coverage. I was invited to visit Denmark to speak at the annual meeting of the Danish College of General Practitioners and I was keen to learn more about the successes and also the challenges facing Danish general practice.
From the President: Family doctors tackling serious global health challenges
Over 25% of the world’s population lives in South Asia, many in dire poverty with limited or no access to health care... The national government of India, like the World Health Organization, has recognised that universal health care can only be achieved through strengthening of primary care, and the key to this is strong family medicine.
Del Presidente: Los Médicos de familia afrontan los retos serios de salud global: ejemplos de la India y África
Más del 25% de la población del mundo vive en Asia meridional, muchos de ellos en extrema pobreza y sin acceso o con acceso muy limitado a los servicios de salud. El gobierno nacional de la Republica de la India, al igual que la Organización Mundial de la Salud (O.M.S.), ha reconocido que la atención sanitaria universal sólo puede lograrse a través del fortalecimiento de la atención primaria, y la clave de esto está en disponer de una medicina familiar fuerte.
Del Presidente: Medicina de familia y la lucha contra el VIH / SIDA
Mi trabajo como médico de familia ha tenido un firme enfoque hacia la atención de personas con VIH durante en los últimos 25 años. Asistir a la Conferencia Mundial contra el SIDA me ha llevado a reflexionar sobre esta experiencia y sobre algunas de las principales lecciones que he aprendido.
From the President: Innovation in family medicine
As family doctors we are also innovative thinkers, and, like Prince Henry, we have the ability to change the world through our work and our influence. Over the past month I have had the opportunity to visit family doctors in Portugal and also in Ireland ...
From the President: Nurturing Tomorrow's Family Doctors: in Malaysia and around the world
I was recently in the Malaysian city of Kuching in Sarawak, on the mystical island of Borneo, and met family doctor Maila Mustapha. Like Dr Maila, as family doctors we all work hard, and many of us work under difficult conditions. Sometimes the resources that we need to do our job are not available. Sometimes the hours we work and the demands on our time can be arduous.
Del Presidente: el mundo de la medicina de familia rural
"Cualquier paciente con cualquier problema, en cualquier momento y en cualquier lugar". Quiero rendir homenaje a nuestro Grupo de Trabajo sobre la Práctica Clínica Rural de WONCA, que durante los últimos 22 años ha sido un gran defensor, además de muy eficaz, de dar formación y apoyo a un número suficiente de médicos de familia rurales cualificados, para poder satisfacer las necesidades de salud de las personas que viven en zonas rurales de todos los países del mundo.
Del Presidente : China y el ascenso del médico de familia
El Dr. Yin Shoulong es un médico general rural en Tai Shitun Village, en China. Vive en una típica casa de pueblo rural, construida alrededor de un patio central. Su clínica ocupa un lado de la casa. Sus pacientes son de su comunidad agrícola y muchos son pobres, ancianos y frágiles.
From the President: China and the rise of the family doctor
Dr Yin Shoulong is a rural general practitioner, in Tai Shitun Village, in China. He lives in a typical rural village house built around a central courtyard, with his clinic occupying one side of his home. His patients are from his farming community and many are impoverished and elderly and frail.
Del Presidente : marzo 2014 - El tsunami de Japón: tres años después
El mes pasado me invitaron a visitar las comunidades de la región de Fukushima, en Japón, afectada por el tsunami y el desastre del reactor nuclear. Yo tenía muchas ganas de aprender sobre el papel que los médicos de familia locales y sus equipos siguen desempeñando para ayudar en la recuperación de los supervivientes de las comunidades devastadas. Fue una semana aleccionadora.
From the President: The Japan tsunami – three years on.
Last month I was invited to visit communities in the Fukushima region of Japan affected by the tsunami and the nuclear reactor disaster. I was keen to learn about the role local family doctors and their teams are continuing to play in assisting in the recovery of the surviving members of the devastated communities. It was a sobering week.
Del Presidente : “Me encanta la medicina de familia”
“Me encanta la medicina de familia". Estas son palabras de la Dra. Margaret Chan, Directora General de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), cuando habló ante la Academia de Medicina de Hong Kong en diciembre. La Dra. Chan pasó a describir cómo la medicina de familia contribuye a la salud y el bienestar de los individuos, las familias y las comunidades en muchas partes del mundo. Me hago eco de la opinión de la Dra. Chan.
From the President :
I love family medicine
These are the words of Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO, speaking at the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine in December. Dr Chan went on to describe how family medicine contributes to the health and well being of individuals, families and communities in many parts of the world.
Del Presidente: una visita a Brasil
Brasil es líder mundial en el tratamiento de la cobertura universal de salud a través de los equipos de medicina familiar. En noviembre, en una de las favelas (barrios marginales) de Río de Janeiro, tuve la oportunidad de reunirme con el médico de familia Euclides Colaço y sus colegas.
From the President: a visit to Brazil
Brazil is a global leader in addressing universal health coverage through family medicine teams. In November, in one of the favelas (“shanty towns”) of Rio de Janeiro, I had the opportunity to meet with family doctor Euclides Colaço and his colleagues.
Del Presidente - noviembre 2013
En octubre, representé a WONCA en una conferencia en Hyderabad, en la India, para celebrar el 50 aniversario de la creación de la Asociación India de Colegios Médicos de Medicina General (IMA CGP).
From the President: November 2013
In October, I represented WONCA at a conference in Hyderabad, in India, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Indian Medical Association College of General Practitioners (IMA CGP).
From the President - think global, act local
In September, I attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York, representing WONCA at a summit called to examine progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and to discuss what happens beyond the end of 2015 when the current MDGs conclude.
Del Presidente - octubre 2013
En septiembre asistí a la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas en Nueva York, en representación de WONCA, una cumbre convocada para examinar los progresos en el cumplimiento de los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio (ODM) y para discutir lo que pasará más allá del final de 2015, cuando los ODM actuales concluyan.
Del Presidente - septiembre 2013
Esta fue mi primera visita a la República de Armenia y realmente no sabía qué podía esperar. Encontré a médicos de familia y enfermeras muy entregados, un programa de formación de medicina familiar sofisticado y algunas reformas muy positivas en salud.
From the President - September 2013
This was my first visit to the Republic of Armenia and I didn’t really know what to expect. What I found was dedicated family doctors and nurses, a sophisticated family medicine training program, and some really positive health care reforms.
From the President - August 2013
It is an extraordinary honour to be elected to lead WONCA, our global organization that represents all of us, the family doctors of the world.
Presidente de WONCA: Buen Viaje
Cuando se despiden, a mis amigos de África occidental les gusta decirse "buen viaje". Me gusta esta frase, ya que sugiere que nuestro viaje nos hará volver a conectar en algún momento en el futuro. "Adiós" en cambio no da ninguna indicación de si nos volveremos a encontrar.
From the President: Good Journey
When bidding each other farewell, my West African friends like to say, “Good journey,” to each other. I like this phrase because it suggests that our travel will have us re-connecting at some point in the future. “Goodbye” on the other hand gives no indication of whether we will ever meet again
Presidente de WONCA: Convirtiendo tareas en CONFIANZA
Hablé recientemente en el 11 Simposio anual de Beijing sobre Medicina Familiar. Mis observaciones se iniciaron con la historia del Dr. Wang Hao, un joven médico en el Hospital Nº 1 de la Universidad Médica de Harbin.
From the President: Turning tasks to TRUST
I spoke recently at the 11th annual Beijing Symposium on Family Medicine. My remarks began with the story of Dr Wang Hao, a young physician at Harbin Medical University’s No. 1 Hospital.
Presidente de WONCA : El todo es más que la suma de sus partes
El todo es más que la suma de sus partes. Algunas verdades es necesario repetirlas, a menudo usando un lenguaje diferente, hasta que las comprendemos mejor. En una reciente reunión para planificar un taller para médicos de familia en múltiples comorbilidades me acordé de ello.
Presidente de WONCA: El valor de Vasco
Un viaje reciente para hablar en una reunión celebrada en Aveiro, Portugal, me llevó 1.000 años. El tiempo de viaje real era de aproximadamente 24 horas. La reunión duró 3 días. Sin embargo, el viaje me dio la oportunidad de reflexionar sobre la vida de Vasco da Gama, que vivió hace 500 años. También me inspiró a mirar hacia el futuro 500 años más.
From the President: The Value of Vasco
A recent trip to speak at a meeting in Aveiro, Portugal took me 1000 years. The actual travel time was about 24 hours. The meeting lasted three days. Yet, the journey gave me a chance to reflect back on the life of Vasco da Gama 500 years ago. It also inspired me to look ahead 500 years into the future.
Presidente de WONCA: Delicias turcas
Las formas danzantes de las luces violetas, azules y blancas del puente eran mágicas, pues brillaban en el cielo oscuro y sobre el agua negra. Meses después, continuo recordando esa vista –me calmó en mi profundo duermevela – mientras reflexionaba sobre ese maravilloso lugar llamado Estambul.
From the President: Turkish delights
The dancing shapes of the violet-blue-white lights of the bridge were magical as they shimmered into the dark night sky and onto the black water. Months later, I continue to think back to that vista – it soothed me into deep slumber as I reflected on the wondrous place known as Istanbul.
Presidente de WONCA: El amanecer de África
Mensaje del Presidente de WONCA diciembre 2012. Este era el tercer congreso de la región africana, con las dos previas en 2000 (Abuja, Nigeria) y 2009 (Rustenberg, Sudáfrica). En el año precedente al congreso, había quien dudaba de si la reunión se haría o se podría convocar en Zimbabwe.
From the President: Africa Rising
This was the third conference of the African region... In the year leading up to the conference, there were some who doubted that the meeting would, or could, actually be convened in Zimbabwe. Those doubters were proved wrong.
From the CEO's Desk
From the CEO’s Desk: Final report December 2020
Garth Manning (CEO 2012-2020) writes his final column for WONCA News reflecting on key achievements and changes during his CEO time of just over eight years, including: presidents; achievements in finances, communications, membership and diversity; expansion of Working Parties, Special Interest Groups and the Young Doctors' Movement; consultatncies and the WONCA standards that underpin these; and interaction with the WHO.
From the CEO’s Desk: November 2020
The CEO reports on the, now virtual, WONCA Rural Conference and WONCA Europe conference as well as the current series of WONCA webinars on COVID-19.
He also announces the release of the 2019-2020 WONCA Annual Report and anticpates a coming virtual WONCA Executive meeting.
From the CEO's desk: new webinars and secretariat transition
Greetings again to all WONCA members, wherever in the world you might be. We continue to live in very uncertain times, but hope that you and your loved ones are managing to survive the global pandemic as best you can - this month information on the next series of WONCA webinars and on the secretariat transition
From the CEO’s Desk: September 2020
Greetings once more. Normal life has yet to resume in most parts of the world, and family doctors continue their vital role as front line workers. We continue to think of, and pray for, all primary care health professionals currently engaged in COVID-19 activities. More on WONCA webinars, WONCA events and the WONCA Annual report.
From the CEO's desk: July 2020
The main news this month concerns confirmation of the postponement of our World Council and conference in Abu Dhabi - the new dates will be 21st to 23rd November 2021 for Council meetings and 25th to 28th November 2021 for the World conference.
From the CEO's desk: June 2020
Countries in lockdown. Borders closed. Populations physically distancing. It seems like a mad, mad world – and yet the work of the organization must go on as best it can. I’d like to start this CEO column with my thanks to Dr Nongluck and her small team for their wonderful efforts to keep the Secretariat functioning, even as Bangkok was in significant shutdown.
From the CEO's desk- May 2020
For all of us, the last few weeks have been quite surreal. COVID-19 has had a major impact on countries around the globe, with very significant effects on the health systems and the economies. Health systems have been placed under immense strain and family doctors have had to quickly learn new ways of working, with virtual consultations and telemedicine becoming the norm in a very short space of time.
From the CEO's desk: March 2020
I recently had the honour of being invited to represent WONCA at an occupational health conference in Mumbai, India. I had been asked to deliver a plenary on how we might integrate Basic Occupational Health Services (BOHS) into primary care, and also took part in a panel discussion on the same issue.
From the CEO's desk : WONCA Publications
This month, at the start of a new year, I wanted to remind everyone about the ever-increasing portfolio of WONCA publications which are available to purchase. The WONCA Family Medicine Series is a collection of books written by world-wide experts and practitioners in collaboration with WONCA
From the CEO’s Desk - Executive meeting outcomes
The latest full meeting of the WONCA Executive took place in Bangkok on 20th and 21st November. As ever we had a very full agenda, but this article is an effort to highlight key discussions and decisions reached, to keep our members informed of progress. Routine reports were received from each of the Regional Presidents, and written reports had been received from most Working Parties and Special Interest Groups.
From the CEO’s Desk : November 2019
The CEO reflects on a welcome return for him to the Eastern Mediterranean region and outlines plans for the WONCA world conference coming in November 2020 to Abu Dhabi. This includes plenaries, dates for meetings, and notice that abstract submission is open and for workshop and symposia closes December 15.
From the CEO's desk: old friends at the AAFP
As I write this I’m in Philadelphia, attending the American Academy of Family Physicians’ (AAFP) Congress of Delegates – equivalent to our world council. This will then be followed by their annual conference – the Family Medicine Experience (FMX). There’s lots happening in the North American Region in the coming few weeks, so I thought it was a good time to feature this part of the WONCA world.
From the CEO's desk: visits to China and Sydney
This month I want to report on two visits which I have undertaken recently. The first was to China, to undertake further practice accreditation visits. The second was to Sydney, for a conference planning meeting and site visit relating to WONCA World, Sydney 2022.
From the CEO's desk: two new Special Interest Groups
This month I’d like to highlight two new Special Interest Groups (SIGs) which the WONCA Executive has recently endorsed: SIG on Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Care and SIG on LGBTQ Health. Find out more about these groups.
From the CEO's desk: WONCA events coming up
It’s always a very busy time, with important meetings with WHO colleagues and statements being made on your behalf in general committee meetings, and I will report back more fully in next month’s news. For this month though I wanted to look ahead to some WONCA events which are some months away but which I urge you to get into your diary.
From the CEO's desk: May 2019
Nihao! Hello from Beijing where we have just completed the first full face to face meeting of the 2018-20 WONCA Executive. The meeting was planned to coincide with the 4th Annual General Practice Training Forum of the Chinese Medical Doctors’ Association (CMDA) Society of GPs (a WONCA Member) during which all members of Executive took part in a global panel discussion. My article this month is to try to summarise some of the key issues discussed, and decisions reached, by Executive during the meeting.
From the CEO's desk: Practice Accreditation- Hong Kong/China
Last year I wrote about a visit undertaken by Professor Rich Roberts and me, when we visited China to undertake practice accreditation visits to Beijing and Shanghai, using the newly developed WONCA Global Standards for Practice Accreditation. These visits stimulated additional interest and so we were invited back in February this year.
From the CEO's desk: 2019 Family Doctor Day and conferences
Greetings again from Bangkok. This month I want to highlight World Family Doctor Day, which will take place on 19th May, and also feature the start of the WONCA conference season. This year we’d especially like to highlight the role of family doctors in providing life- long care to their patients – “from cradle to grave”.
From the CEO's desk: WONCA and WHO
This month I thought it would be timely to write on WONCA and its ever-closer relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO). The big news, of course, is the MOU which has just been signed between WONCA and WHO – featured elsewhere in this newsletter.
From the CEO’s desk: reporting on World Council
Garth Manning reports on the WONCA World Council meeting held In Korea in association with our recent World conference : With a meeting of the WONCA Executive, a WONCA Council and then a brilliant WONCA conference in Seoul It has been an incredibly busy time. He reports on election results, statements approved, other highlights and various presentations.
From the CEO's desk: Korea activities and logistics
We’re publishing the timetable for Korea to try to ensure that everyone has a clear idea of the schedule for the various meetings around the time of the World Council. Just prior to Council our Regional Councils meet, whist between Council and conference most of our Working Parties and Special Interest Groups meet,
From the CEO's desk; WONCA membership explained
A couple of years ago I wrote on WONCA membership, and thought that I would return to this, to update members on which organizations have been admitted to WONCA membership in this biennium. WONCA now boasts over 130 Member Organizations in around 150 countries and territories and represents some 600,000 family doctors globally.
From the CEO's desk there is no UHC without PHC
What a busy few weeks!! Since last I wrote I’ve been in Geneva, for World Health Assembly, then on to Krakow for the WONCA Europe conference and then to Warsaw for a meeting of the WONCA Executive. After that it was off to Toronto, to undertake a Program Accreditation visit at University of Toronto, before heading away for some much-needed leave time.
From the Editor’s desk: Krakow and Korea conferences
For our CEO, Garth Manning, it has been an especially busy period of late, with the World Health Assembly closely followed by the WONCA Europe conference, in Krakow, which was then followed immediately by the WONCA Executive meeting in Warsaw. Meanwhile, having also been at the WONCA Europe conference, I reflect on the great enjoyment of attending WONCA Conferences.
Arrangements for meetings in Seoul
WONCA CEO Garth Manning outlines arrangements for all WONCA Meetings associated with (mostly preceding) the coming World conference in Seoul,South Korea. These include meetings of Working Parties and Special Interest Groups, Young Doctors and the WOCNA World Council. Venues are confirmed and vary so please take a close look.
From the CEO’s Desk: WONCA Standards and Accreditation
As a further addition to WONCA Standards, and to enhance quality standards and improvement in family medicine practice, the Secretariat developed a series of Global Standards for Practice Accreditation, in 2017. These standards look at four key areas of practice: practitioners, patients, provider activity, premises
From the CEO's desk: Arrangements for Seoul 2018
This month, the CEO reminds everyone of the arrangements and timetable for Seoul, and encourages everyone to make their travel plans for an excellent event in a fascinating city. There are multiple events before a WONCA World conference - WONCA Executive, WONCA Regional Councils, WONCA World Council, WONCA Working Party meetings, Special Interest Groups meetings, Young Doctors' preconference. The culmination is the WONCA World conference.
From the CEO’s desk: all coming conferences
This month I want to return to the theme of WONCA conferences and events. These are important landmarks in our calendar, as they afford a great opportunity to meet up with old friends, to make some new friends, and to share areas of interest with colleagues from all around the world.
From the CEO’s desk: Scholarships for Seoul
This will, of course, be a busy year for us, with the World Council and conference scheduled for Seoul, Korea, in October. Plans are already well advanced, and I wanted to use this month’s column to promote a number of WONCA awards and bursaries which are available to assist attendance at the world conference.
From the CEO’s Desk: WONCA Executive meets
Greetings again from Bangkok. This month I’ll report on the meeting of the 2016-18 Executive, which took place in Bangkok on 29th and 30th October 2017 - this was the second full meeting of the 2016-18 WONCA Executive and the last meeting for Prof Michael Kidd.
From the CEO's desk: WONCA publications
This month I thought it would be useful to remind members about the various WONCA publications, many of which are freely available via the WONCA website, and especially to highlight recent and forthcoming WONCA publications and some key WONCA documents.
From the CEO's desk: quiet time reflections
The CEO reflects on a "quiet" time of year.. conferences just held, more to come and the 2017 Annual report in final preparation. And WONCA signs an MOU with IPCRG. See what Garth Manning has to say.
From the CEOs desk: Global meetings
The WONCA CEO tells of the recent WHO World Health Assembly and the activities of our WONCA delegation, the Global Forum for human resources for health, the Alma Ata declaration 40 years on, and a visit to the WONCA Secretariat in Bangkok by former manager Yvonne Chung
From the CEO's desk: more on SIGs
I had reported that WONCA, at its October 2016 Council, had approved the formation of several new Special Interest Groups (SIGs) – in Non-Communicable Diseases; Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine; Men’s Health; Health Equity; Genetics; Emergency Medicine; Quaternary Prevention; and Workers’ Health.
From the CEO's desk: World Family Doctor Day May 19, 2017 theme
Last year many of our colleagues across the globe celebrated the day by organising a variety of events and activities. We’re very happy for Member Organizations to develop their own theme for FDD, depending on local priorities, but this year we’d especially like to highlight depression.
From the CEOs desk: new special interest groups
WONCA is blessed with many Working Parties (WPs) and SIGs which work between world council meetings to progress specific areas of interest to WONCA and its members around the globe. This month and next I will feature some of the seven new SIGs, to give members a flavor of where their interest lies, and give details of how to join the groups for anyone who shares their interests.
From the CEO: Important things repeated
A timely reminder from our CEO about details for the coming World conference in Rio and the associated meetings of WONCA groups and WONCA World Council. Links to the latest on Zika virus.
From the CEO: WHA, Europe conference, Zika and Rio.
The two key events I want to talk about this month are the World Health Assembly, held in late May, and the WONCA Europe conference in Copenhagen from 15th to 18th June. I also briefly want to mention the many great activities undertaken by our member organizations to celebrate World Family Doctor Day.
From the CEO: new website, Rio and more
Garth Manning reports on the WONCA website upgrade, the planning for the World conference in Rio, information on Zika virus, and on his recent participation in the Cumbre in Costa Rica.
From the CEO's desk: Many meetings and Rio planning dates
This month the CEO anticipates his coming attendance at a number of WONCA conferences and meetings. He also reminds us that World Family Doctor Day comes on May 19 and it certainly time to start planning activities. This year's suggested theme is smoking cessation and there are a number of resources available.
From the CEO's desk: recent and future meetings
This month the WONCA CEO reflects on two WHO meetings that he has been to recently (on cardiovascular disease and ageing & health respectively) as well as next year's WONCA conferences. Finally, at the end of the year, seasons greetings are extended to all colleagues
From the CEO's desk: WONCA executive meet
This month I want to report back to everyone on the recent WONCA Executive meeting held in Istanbul on 18th and 19th October, just prior to the WONCA Europe conference.
From the CEO’s Desk - WONCA’s Global Reach
WONCA truly is a global organization, representing over 500,000 members in more than 140 countries and territories in all continents. This month's report is on representation on the global stage.
From the CEO's desk: Young Doctors and Family Doctor Day
We really are blessed in WONCA. In each of our seven regions we now have a Young Doctors’ Movement (YDM), helping to support and encourage and develop the next generation of family doctors and WONCA leaders.
At two recent conferences – WONCA South Asia in Dhaka and WONCA Asia Pacific in Taipei – I’ve been privileged to take part in sessions run by the regional YDMs.
From the CEO's desk: Family Doctor Day and more
In this month’s WONCA News I want to report back on the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) which is held each year in Bangkok. I also want to highlight World Family Doctor Day which, as ever, will be celebrated on 19th May.
From the CEO's desk: final 2014 message
The CEO has been in Rio checking on preparations for the world conference and council meeting being held in 2016. Dates for various associated meetings have been announced and he is clearly excited: "Rio really is a fantastic city, with many beaches right in the heart of the city. The conference itself is planned for Rio Centro, an excellent congress centre on a really lovely campus, close to what will become the Olympic village for the 2016 Olympics."
From the CEO's desk: awards, conferences, resources.
Hello again from Bangkok. This month I want to concentrate on WONCA awards, WONCA conferences and WONCA resources. Two sets of awards are currently available for WONCA members. The Montegut Scholarship awards provide support for one doctor from each of the seven WONCA regions to attend their regional conference annually. The Taiwan Family Medicine Research awards are available to three young researchers, to present their research at the Asia Pacific conference in Taipei next March.
From the CEO's desk: WONCA happenings
The CEO reports on a range of news items including from Shanghai, Kuching, North America (where a new young doctors' movement has formed), the Caribbean as well as the recent World Health Assembly.
From the CEO's desk: June 2014
Our CEO reports on the three main highlights for this month of Family Doctor Day, the World Health Assembly in Geneva and the WONCA Asia Pacific Region conference in Kuching Malaysia.
From the CEO’s Desk: May 2014
The WONCA CEO reflects on two conferences in South America, the Quito Declaration, and the upcoming World Family Doctor Day and the Asia Pacific conference coming soon in Kuching.
Family Doctor Day - May 19
This year we want to encourage even more organizations to celebrate in appropriate style on 19th May. We would love Member Organisations to tell us in advance of their plans – so that we can promote at least some in WONCA News
From the CEO's desk: Family Doctor Day coming soon
Garth Manning, WONCA CEO, writes about Family Doctor Day, coming up on May 19; past president of WONCA, Dr David Game's visit to the WONCA secretariat;; and attendances on WONCA's behalf to various important meetings.
From the CEO’s Desk: March 2014
WONCA CEO, Garth Manning, writes of meetings attended, upcoming WONCA conferences, direct membership (find out who is Direct member 001), and more.
From the CEO's desk: a new year
Another year begins, and it has been a really hectic few weeks already! The WONCA Executive met in London for three days ( January 17-19) with a very full agenda, and many issues were discussed and debated.
From the CEO's desk: one year on
Hong Kong anniversary celebrations, young doctors and ... we come to the end of the first full year of the WONCA Secretariat in Bangkok. It has been a busy and eventful year, with our first Executive and Council meetings, but we survived, and I’m sure will go from strength to strength.
From the CEO's desk: our next generation of leaders
This month I want to highlight WONCA’s Young Doctor movements and the fantastic work they are doing. These are the next generation of leaders of family medicine and of WONCA, and it is wonderful to see so much energy and enthusiasm – reassuring that the future of family medicine is safe in their hands.
From the CEO's desk - World Family Doctors' day
Family medicine is well established in many countries but others struggle to get acceptance and recognition of our specialism, and one of WONCA’s key roles is to highlight and promote the discipline wherever and whenever we can. One of our initiatives was to establish a “World Family Doctors' Day”.
From the CEO’s Desk: weather, working parties and WONCA world
Bangkok in January – bright blue skies, daytime temperatures in the low to mid 30s, evening temperatures a very pleasant low 20s….. but it’s a great time to be in Thailand and I’m sure it’s mere coincidence, that our President, Rich Roberts, and President-elect, Michael Kidd, will arrive here in early February for the next Core Executive meeting!
From the CEO's desk: New year, new challenges
The next six months will be especially busy, leading up to the World Council in June. As this will be the current Secretariat’s first World Council we are only too aware of how much work has to be done ...
From the CEO's desk: a busy month
New WONCA CEO, Dr Garth Manning, is encouraged by the number of individual family doctors seeking to join WONCA as direct members. He also writes of setting up the new WONCA secretariat in Bangkok.
From the CEO's desk : Greetings from Bangkok
The new Secretariat is slowly assuming its roles and responsibilities. The transition really is “work in progress” and we’re trying to make this one as seamless as we can.
The Nominations and Awards Committee, under the Chairmanship of Professor Michael Kidd, is still seeking nominations for all WONCA posts which will come up for election or re-election at the World Council in Prague next June.
World Family Doctor Day 2012
May 19, 2010 was declared World Family Doctor Day by the then outgoing Wonca World President, Chris van Weel, at the opening of the Wonca World Conference, in Cancun, Mexico.
From the CEO's Desk
The Future of Community at WONCA
Community is what makes up the beating heart of WONCA. From our Working Parties and Young Doctors’ Movements to the links between individuals, our members have successfully championed connection and collaboration.
From the Headquarters: February 2022
Beginning this year, an Ordinary Meeting of the Council will take place annually. We will continue to hold an in-person meeting together with the World Conference every two years.
From the Headquarters: July 2021
In the previous issue of WONCA News, we announced that the World Conference will turn into a virtual one. It is very unfortunate that our global community will not be able to meet in person in Abu Dhabi.
From the Headquarters: April 2021
World Family Doctor Day, first declared in 2010 and celebrated every year on 19 May, is an opportunity to acknowledge and advocate for the pivotal role of family doctors and primary care teams.
From the Headquarters: March 2021
This column contains the most recent activities from the Secretariat, including information regarding the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Council in May, the new Membership Portal and all the updates related to Data Protection and Privacy Policies.
Feature Stories
World’s GP bodies call on to act urgently on climate emergency
GP and health bodies representing three million health professionals worldwide are urging international leaders to safeguard the health of global populations from the climate crisis in an open letter, launched on day three of the WONCA World Conference in Sydney
Joint Statement by WFPHA, WONCA, and WPA
It is time to join forces and address both the wider determinants of mental health and those of mental health conditions overcoming limitations and shortcomings of monodisciplinary approaches to mental health and Mental Health Conditions.
World Mental Health Day 2023
Join WONCA in celebrating this global event. Explore the article authored by Prof. Christos Lionis, chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health
World Patient Safety Day 2023
World Patient Safety Day 2023, happening on September 17th emphasizes the essential role patients, along with their families and caregivers, play in ensuring healthcare safety
YDM Newsletter: Polaris (Feb - Sep 2023)
Over the last six months, Family Medicine Early Career Physicians, Residents and Medical Students in our Polaris region have continued to immerse themselves into full scope family practice, while continuing to support their patients, colleagues and local/broader communities
YDM Newsletter: EYFDM (Feb - Sep 2023)
The past six months have been a busy time for EYFDM, centered around the 2023 WONCA Europe conference (with EYFDM pre-conference!), which took place in June in Brussels.
Welcome to the World Family Doctor Day 2023 report!
In this WONCA News edition, we would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation to all our member organizations, colleagues, family doctors, primary care professionals and to our global family, for joining us in celebrating World Family Doctor Day! Your contributions and collaborations made this day truly extraordinary.
Beyond World Family Doctor Day
As the World Organization of Family Doctors, we represent over half a million family doctors around the globe. At WONCA, we firmly believe that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental human right.
Help us give family doctors a global voice – Donate to WONCA today!
Call for Applications: Awards 2023
The Montegut Global Scholar Program (MGSP), sponsored by the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation; and the Taiwan Family Medicine Research Award by the Chinese Taipei Association of Family Medicine (CTAFM) are now open for applications
World Health Day 2023
On this World Health Day, let's prioritize primary health care to build resilient health systems
WONCA Air Health Train the Trainer Program.
After completing two self-directed online training courses, educational videos, and a webinar with presentations from existing trainers and air pollution teaching slides, trainers were ready to take their training to their local communities.
International Women’s Day 2023
On the ocassion, WONCA President Dr Anna Stavdal recognized the pivotal role of female family doctors and their tireless work and commitment to patient-centred care
WONCA introduces the MDD Minds Project
The goal of this initiative is to improve the quality of care for patients suffering from major depressive disorders in Africa-Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Latin America
President-elect: Thinking of WONCA 2023
During the last week of November I attended the annual conference of my own college - the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP). Next year, the RACGP is honoured to be hosting the world conference of WONCA, in conjunction with our own conference.
UHCDay: Build the world we want. A healthy future for all
On 12 December, WONCA joined Universal Health Coverage Day with a social media campaign that included several videos and quotes from our colleagues and members of the WONCA family to demand action on universal health coverage and invest in health systems and primary healthcare for all.
WONCA visits Sydney
WONCA CEO, Dr Harris Lygidakis, and Associate Professor Bohumil Seifert, Chair of the WONCA 2013 Prague Conference, visited Sydney, Australia, where the WONCA World Conference will take place on 26 – 29 October 2023
Astana Declaration Anniversary 2022
The Global Conference on Primary Health Care in Astana, Kazakhstan in October 2018 endorsed a new declaration emphasizing the critical role of primary health care around the world
WONCA accreditation to Clinical Masters of the AGU
The Arabian Gulf University (AGU), supported by the Bahrain Government and the Supreme Council of Health (SCH), successfully completed the two-year Clinical Masters in Family Medicine (CMFM). The programme has also been granted WONCA accreditation after meeting WONCA’s Global Standards for Postgraduate Family Medicine Education.
WONCA Accreditation: Yuma Regional Medical Center
Through its Working Party on Education, WONCA has developed the “Standards for Postgraduate Family Medical Education”, against which academic programs in family medicine can be assessed and gain approval from our global organization.
From the Editor: May 2022
May is here, which means World Family Doctor Day is coming! This edition is dedicated to our flagship celebration. It represents an important date to support and acknowledge the central role of Family Doctors and Primary Care Teams
WONCA Encourages Members to Take Action
People, especially those with medical needs, are suffering in Ukraine. Over two million people have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries. Here is how you can help!
Relationship and trust, prerequisites of medical consultation
Anna Stavdal’s article “From the President: On Family Doctors’ Vaccine Dilemmas” addresses the dilemma of what happens when a patient rejects the Covid vaccination despite the doctor’s science-based recommendation, and despite the resulting risk of serious consequences, not only for the patient’s health but also for the health of others.
From the Editor: April 2022
In this edition, we maintain our call for solidarity and continue to promote multiple ways to support Ukraine.
International Women's Day 2022
We thank the contribution of our colleagues in primary care from all over the world and we raise our voices for a gender-equal world!
From the Editor: March 2022
In this edition, WONCA makes an important call for solidarity and urges members and member organizations to take action and support in Ukraine.
IWD2022: WONCA Iberoamericana-CIMF
On March 8, 2022, we witness a new war unleashed, the persistence of other armed conflicts, the ongoing COVID19 pandemic and the planet continues to be threatened by climate change.
From the Editor: December 2021
Welcome to the last edition of WONCA News 2021. This issue marks the beginning of a new phase for WONCA with the appointment of Dr Anna Stavdal as President of our organisation
Universal Health Coverage Day 2021
As a professional organisation representing thousands of family doctors and general practitioners globally, WONCA strongly supports Universal Health Coverage
PHCPI: If Health Systems Could Talk
At a pivotal moment for health systems everywhere, PHCPI is excited to share a new digital report highlighting data and lessons from the first 23 Vital Signs Profiles, called “If Health Systems Could Talk: Illuminating the Vital Signs of Strong Primary Health Care.”
From the Editor: October 2021
Dedicated to World Mental Health Day, the 8th edition of our WONCA News gathers advocacy efforts from various colleagues from all over the world in support of mental health
World Mental Health Day 2021
On October 10, WONCA joined the celebration of World Mental Health Day, a date promoted by the World Federation for Mental Health and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Family Doctors & Mental Health
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, WONCA President-Elect, Dr Anna Stavdal reflects on the role of family doctors in the development of better care for diverse mental health conditions.
WFMH: Mental Health in an Unequal World
This document was produced by the World Federation for Mental Health, with the help of collaborators from all over the world, including members of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health
WONCA Annual Report 2020 - 2021
In this document, you will find an overview of WONCA's global activities and our main achievements from July 2020 to June 2021.
From the Editor: July 2021
This time we bring you a very special edition as we gathered all the activities, efforts and celebrations on the occasion of World Family Doctor Day 2021!
From the Editor: June 2021
WONCA NEWS June includes crucial information related to the WONCA World Conference 2021 and a a special tribute dedicated to Professor Barbara Starfield
A Tribute to Barbara Starfield
The first encounter I had with Barbara Starfield – and I think many in European primary care – was in 1994, when she published her paper ‘Is primary care essential?’ in the Lancet. It was what we now would call a virtual meeting, but virtual with an impact that still can be felt today.
Barbara Starfield: The Legend & The Lady
Many of us in WONCA have Barbara Starfield stories. Most recall her humour and her passion, her advocacy for primary care and her belief in the use of evidence to prove her point.
Remembering Barbara Starfield
It has been a decade since Professor Starfield passed away, on 10th June, 2011. Today we honour her memory and legacy with a special section full of inspiring stories, personal anecdotes and heartfelt messages from WONCA members and close colleagues
From the Editor: May 2021
We have reached the fifth month of the year and the fourth edition of WONCA News. May has been a month of lots of planning and preparations.
WONCA Accreditation and Certification
WONCA accreditation provides a professional, collegial context within which individual practices and post graduate programmes can review their standards, improve them where necessary, and gain approval from our global organisation.
Together We Can Overcome COVID-19: Letters to G7 & G20
The World Federation of Public Health Associations hosted a historic meeting to initiate a coalition amongst leaders from international NGOs who share a common interest in equitable access for vaccines and treatment during COVID-19.
Guest Feature by John Wynn-Jones:
Farewell, Goodbye and the End
Dr John Wynn-Jones is well known in WONCA circles and immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. During the COVID-19 crisis he has been writing a 'Rural Miscellany' email with poems and resource ideas to help and divert us in this difficult time. In this, the last item of 'Rural Miscellany', we publish "Farewell, Goodbye and the End"
From the Editor: April 2021
In this issue, WONCA President, Dr Donald Li , shares in his column essential information regarding our flag event: World Family Doctors Day (WFDD) and reveals the theme of the 2021 edition
Guest Feature by John Wynn-Jones:
Liberty and Freedom
Dr John Wynn-Jones is well known in WONCA circles and immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. During the COVID-19 crisis he has been writing a 'Rural Miscellany' email with poems and resource ideas to help and divert us in this difficult time. In this, the second item of 2021, we publish "Liberty and Freedom" - written by John this month.
From the Editor: March 2021
Since the beginning of activities at the new WONCA Secretariat, we have had a very active couple of months, getting to know everyone who makes it possible for our organisation to continue its mission.
Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World
To celebrate International Women’s Day, WONCA President Elect, Dr Anna Stavdal, writes about the role of women within the healthcare workforce and the importance of an equal future in a post-COVID-19 world.
Guest Feature by John Wynn-Jones: The Garden
Dr John Wynn-Jones is well known in WONCA circles and immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. During the COVID-19 crisis he has been writing a 'Rural Miscellany' email with poems and resource ideas to help and divert us in this difficult time. In this, the second item of 2021, we publish "The Garden" - written by John this month.
From the Editor: February 2021
We start the 47th volume of WONCA News with many introductions, including mine. For my first edition, I am also pleased to introduce the new WONCA Secretariat based in Brussels, Belgium
Guest Feature by John Wynn-Jones:
Truth
Dr John Wynn-Jones is well known in WONCA circles and immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. During the COVID-19 crisis he has been writing a 'Rural Miscellany' email with poems and resource ideas to help and divert us in this difficult time. In this first item of 2021, we publish "Truth" - written by John this month
Farewell from the WONCA editor, Dr Karen Flegg
After 103 issues and over 10 ½ years it’s time for me to say farewell as your WONCA editor. It’s been an honour to serve WONCA as its Editor, since May 2010, as it allowed me to get to know so many fantastic and amazing colleagues and to learn about family medicine and its variations around the world.
Past Presidents' comments as WONCA CEO, Garth Manning finishes
At the end of 2020 Dr Garth Manning retires as WONCA CEO. He has served during the terms of four WONCA presidents, having commenced duties during the term of Rich Roberts, and continuing during the terms of Michael Kidd, Amanda Howe and Donald Li. Here Rich, Michael and Amanda give their thoughts at this time, and Donald’s parting messages are included in this month's “From the President” column.
Editor's pick: favourite photos
Editor's pick photos are part of my reflection on a decade as WONCA They are favourites for various reasons - this time I’ve included a couple where I was caught in front of the camera instead of behind the camera, as well as some I think are great photos, some of WONCA leaders captured offguard, and some friends seen at conferences. All tell a story of the WONCA family.
Editor's pick: WONCA memorabilia
Editor's pick photos are part of my reflection on a decade as WONCA Editor. It’s impossible to encapsulate everything WONCA is about. While this is certainly not a comprehensive selection of photos on what WONCA is about, all tell a story of the WONCA family.
Guest Feature by John Wynn-Jones: Health and Wellbeing
Dr John Wynn-Jones is well known in WONCA circles and immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. During the COVID-19 crisis he has been writing a daily 'Rural Miscellany' email with poems and resource ideas to help and divert us in this difficult time. As a final item for 2020 we publish our hopes for 2021 - "Health and Wellbeing" - written by John in September.
Editor's pick: reports and photos of WONCA conferences
Karen Flegg writes: As part of finishing up my role as WONCA editor by the end of the year, I wish to reflect on the great joy and wonderful times I have experienced in attending WONCA conferences over the last 10 years. My Editor's Picks: Photos of Individuals, and Editors Picks: Photos of Groups received wonderful feedback and of course these photos of my colleagues were taken at WONCA conferences. Below you will find various conference reports from past years' WONCA conferences.
Guest Feature by John Wynn-Jones: Joy
Dr John Wynn-Jones is well known in WONCA circles and immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. During the COVID-19 crisis he has been writing a daily 'Rural Miscellany' email with poems and resource ideas to help and divert us in this difficult time.
This month we feature his item on "joy".
La pandémie de COVID 19 vue par les médecins de famille
Dr David Ponka écrit. David est médecin de famille à Ottawa, au Canada, et directeur du Centre Besrour pour la médecine familiale mondiale du Collège des médecins de famille du Canada. Il a trois filles qui sont maintenant de retour à l’école après avoir obtenu un résultat négatif au test de dépistage de la COVID-19.
A family medicine perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic
A perspective from Dr David Ponka. David is a family physician in Ottawa, Canada, and the Director of the Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine at the College of Family Physicians of Canada. He has three daughters who are now back to school after testing negative for COVID-19.
Une traduction en français est disponible.
Allies improving PHC
WONCA is pleased to join as an inaugural member of Allies Improving PHC, an exciting alliance of global and local organizations committed to unlocking the full promise of primary health care (PHC) on the road to health for all.
Charles Boelen: WONCA & Family Docs, best partners for health system revival
In 1988, as a newly assigned coordinator of the Human Resources for Health program at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, I met the then WONCA President and liaison officer with WHO, Dr M K Rajakumar, from Malaysia. In his frank style, his first words were: “We often meet and talk at WHO but never do things together”! I boomeranged to him: “OK, let’s start doing things”!
Guest Feature by John Wynn-Jones: Flowers
Dr John Wynn-Jones is well known in WONCA circles and immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. During the COVID-19 crisis he has been writing a daily 'Rural Miscellany' email with poems and resource ideas to help and divert us in this difficult time. This month we feature his item on "flowers".
From the editor : 10 years and 100 issues
Karen Flegg writes: This edition of WONCA News is the 100th edition that I have produced as WONCA editor. In May, it was my 10 year anniversary as the 9th WONCA editor having taken over from Dr Mark Rivo, at the 2010 World Council meeting held at the time of the world conference in Cancun, Mexico.
Editor's pick : Photos of groups
Editor's pick photos are part of my reflection on a decade as WONCA Editor. Most photos are my own, taken at various conferences between 2010 and 2019. They are favourites for various reasons - some I think are great photos, some are of WONCA leaders captured offguard, and some are from family doctors I've interviewed in the last decade. All tell a story of the WONCA family.
Editor's pick: Photos of Individuals
Editor's pick photos are part of my reflection on a decade as WONCA Editor. Most photos are my own, taken at various conferences between 2010 and 2019. They are favourites for various reasons - some I think are great photos, some are of WONCA leaders captured offguard, and some are from family doctors I've interviewed in the last decade. All tell a story of the WONCA family.
Guest Feature by John Wynn-Jones: Courage
Dr John Wynn-Jones writes on Courage. During this dreadful pandemic there have been many acts of courage and fortitude shown by health care workers. Despite the personal risks, many of you have continued to practice, often without adequate PPE, knowing that you and sometimes your loved ones are at risk.
Guest Feature by John Wynn-Jones: the pursuit of beauty
Dr John Wynn-Jones is well known in WONCA circles and immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. During the COVID-19 crisis he has been writing a daily 'Rural Miscellany' email with poems and resource ideas to help and divert us in this difficult time. He agreed to entertain us again this month on "the pursuit of beauty"
World Family Doctor Day celebrated in all WONCA regions
This year we decided to highlight a theme relevant to the challenges and the responsibilities of family doctors in the new global coronavirus outbreak. – “Family doctors on the front line - first in, last out." This report focuses on region videos and webinars.
Guest Feature by Dr John Wynn-Jones: The Four Seasons
Dr John Wynn-Jones is well known in WONCA circles and immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. During the COVID-19 crisis he has been writing a daily 'Rural Miscellany' email with poems and resource ideas to help and divert us in this difficult time. He graciously agreed to write a guest column for WONCA News this month. "Can the arts flourish at a time of pestilence and are the two mutually exclusive?"
Help in troubling times
Two of our Working Party chairs, Chris Dowrick and John Wynn-Jones are leading the way in encouraging colleagues to say what they are finding helpful in these troubling times dominated by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Professor Michael Boland - RIP March 25, 2020
It with great sadness that we announce the death of one of my predecessors as WONCA President, Professor Michael Boland of Ireland. Michael was a true visionary, and an inspirational leader in family medicine, as witnessed by the many tributes already paid to him. Professor Michael Kidd, also a former WONCA President, pays formal tribute to Michael Boland.
WONCA / Besrour prizes for emerging researchers
Awards of $5000 (USD) for the best oral presentation, and $2000 (USD) for the best poster presentation, are being generously provided by Dr Sadok Besrour from the Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine at the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
WONCA Calendar 2020
Dr Pratyush Kumar, WONCA Executive Member at large, has produced innovative calendars for several years now. This year he's created a WONCA Calendar.
New WONCA CEO announced
The WONCA Executive Committee is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Harris Lygidakis as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), succeeding Dr Garth Manning, in November 2020
WONCA President writes to Australian colleagues
WONCA President, Dr Donald Li has written to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) to express his sadness and sympathy for colleagues in the wake the current devastation and loss of life in many parts of Australia as a result of fires.
The UN High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage
Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, WONCA Executive Member-at Large and WHO Liaison person was the WONCA Delegate to the UN High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage. September 23, 2019. Now we have a political declaration signed by all member countries of the UN. WONCA invites member organisations to review the declaration
Reflections on being WONCA President - Amanda Howe
Amanda Howe, WONCA Immediate Past President, comes to the end of six years on WONCA Executive this coming month. WONCA thanks her for the huge voluntary commitment this represents. Here she reflects on this period of her life.
Sonia Tsukagoshi on the Vasco da Gama Movement
Dr Sonia Tsukagoshi, the new Vasco da Gama Movement (VdGM) Liaison Officer on WONCA Europe Executive Board , the British-Japanese family medicine physician, was interviewed recently by Pere Vilanova of semFYC.
New global research agenda to advance PHC and achieve UHC
A WONCA research team, led by Working Party on Research Chair, Felicity Goodyear-Smith, won two of the grants and therefor conducted two of the studies (on organisation and on financing of primary care). Other members of the research team include WONCA past presidents Amanda Howe, Chris van Weel and Michael Kidd.
A practice visit in Slovakia - the WONCA editor reports
During the recent WONCA Europe conference in Bratislava, the WONCA editor travelled outside the city to the nearby town of Pezinok on a visit to the practice of Dr Adriana Šimková. It was a multinational group with the editor being accompanied by colleagues Olgun Göktaş from Turkey and Hagit Dascal-Weichhendler from Israel.
Anna Stavdal - on the agenda!
When Anna Stavdal stood for election as WONCA President-elect, in Seoul, she focused on the importance of adapting the core values of family medicine to current trends. Here she reflects on this issue, overmedicalisation and a recent BMJ article.
Klaus von Pressentin, Montegut Scholar, on WONCA Africa conference
Klaus B von Pressentin reports on his attendance as the Montegut Scholar, at the WONCA Africa 2019 conference, in Kampala, Uganda, from June 4-8, 2019. Klaus is from Mossel Bay sub-district, South Africa. The Montegut Global Scholars Program is funded by the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation (ABFM-F).
World Family Doctor Day 2019 report
As is now the custom, World Family Doctor Day was celebrated widely in many countries across the globe. Of particular note this year was the launch of two books which are featured in this report - both show what our specialty of family medicine is about - but from totally different perspectives. Other member organisation reports formally submitted by May 31 are included in the attached document.
Reflections from Jessie Mbamba, Montegut Global Scholar in Seoul 2018
Jessie Mbamba, family medicine registrar from Malawi, received a Montegut global scholarship to attend the WONCA World conference, in Seoul, in 2018. The Montegut Global Scholars Program (MGSP) was established by the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation (ABFM-F) in 2010. The MGSP was established to foster international education, research and collaboration, in the specialty of family medicine.
WONCA's CEO search
Dr Garth Manning, our current CEO, will be stepping down from his current role in December 2020. We are beginning the search for a successor; please read and circulate the attached advertisement widely to anyone who might be interested in applying.
Adrián Castellote: Do we have to evacuate him?
Adrián Castellote is semFYC’s representative in WONCA Europe’s Network, EURIPA – the organisation for doctors from rural and remote areas in Europe. He is now embarking on a working trip on a sailing expedition to Antarctica. Follow his footsteps live with semFYC with hasgtag # MFenAntártida. This time Adrián deals with a medical evacuation question.
A mon sens : Déclaration concernant la santé planétaire
Le professeur Sir Andy Haines s’exprime sur la « Déclaration encourageant les médecins de famille du monde à agir sur la santé planétaire » -résultat du groupe de travail de WONCA sur l’environnement et du groupe de travail de l’alliance de cliniciens pour la santé planétaire
Desde mi punto de vista: Declaración acerca de la Salud Planetaria
El Profesor Sir Andy Haines escribe acerca de la “Declaración llamando a los médicos de familia para actuar sobre la salud planetaria” – un resultado del Grupo de Trabajo de la WONCA en Medio Ambiente y los Médicos en Salud de la Alianza Planetaria para el Grupo de Trabajo en Salud Planetaria.
In my View : Declaration on Planetary Health
Prof Sir Andy Haines writes about the "Declaration calling for the family doctors of the world to act on planetary health" - a result of the WONCA Working Party on the Environment and the Planetary Health Alliance Clinicians for Planetary Health Working Grou
Adrián Castellote: "In Patagonia, the only thing running is the wind"
Adrián Castellote is semFYC’s representative in WONCA Europe’s Network, EURIPA – the organisation for doctors from rural and remote areas in Europe. He is now embarking on a working trip on a sailing expedition to Antarctica. Follow his footsteps live with semFYC with hasgtag # MFenAntártida This is the second installment about his journey.
WONCA – OMS: Memorándum de Entendimiento firmado
El Presidente de la WONCA, Dondal Li, y el Director General de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, el Doctor Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus han firmado un memorándum de entendimiento (Memorandum of Understanding, MOU) en nombre de ambas organizaciones, reflejando el rol crucial que juega la Medicina de Familia a la hora de conseguir el objetivo de la Cobertura Universal de Salud.
WONCA-WHO Memorandum of Understanding signed
WONCA President, Donald Li, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO sign a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of both organisations, reflecting the crucial role played by family medicine in achieving the goal of Universal Health Coverage. The MOU offers all our members and Member Organisations an official entry point to build even closer collaboration with WHO colleagues globally.
A Spanish doctor in Antarctica - Adrián Castellote
Adrián Castellote, from Spain, is not like any other family doctor, he is an adventurer, an explorer, and his resumé proves it. Here, semFYC, the Spanish organisation for Family Doctors interviews Adrián as he prepares for an expedition to Antarctica.
Pratyush Kumar's 2019 Geriatric Health Calendar
Dr Pratyush Kumar, WONCA executive, member at large, and chair of WONCA Rural South Asia is happy to share with you all his Geriatric Health Calendar 2019. Pratyush has created other health calendars in previous years but this year’s focus is on geriatric issues.
"Healing by Numbers" and "Virginity Testing" TEDx talks
Raquel Gomez Bravo shares with you two of the official videos of the TEDxUniversityOfLuxembourg that have been organised in the university with speakers, Prof Richard Roberts "Healing by Numbers", and Sara Rigon, "Virginity testing".
WONCA Awards 2018
Presented in Korea were the WONCA Global awards - Honorary Life Membership, WONCA Fellowship, WONCA five star doctor and the Taiwan Family Medicine research award.
Three PHC books launched
Three books written by WONCA leaders have been launched in the past month: Family Practice in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Universal Health Coverage and Quality Primary Care; How To Do Primary Care Research: and Primary Health Care around the World: Recommendations for International Policy and Development.
New Executive, Committees and chairs of WPs & SIGs 2018-2020
Our recent world Council meeting sees changes in the membership and leadership of many WONCA committees. Below you will find members lists for the new Executive (pictured above) and the Statutory Committees, as well as the Chairs of Working Parties (WPs) and conveners of Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
WONCA launches the Seoul Declaration
On October 18, 2018 The Seoul Declaration of the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) on Primary Health Care Strengthening was launched at the WONCA world conference in Seoul, South Korea... "Strong Primary Health Care (PHC) has been recognized as the essential cornerstone to achieve health equity. We fully endorse the inclusion of Family Doctors in the Astana Declaration and we hope that this Declaration leads to lasting benefits for the peoples of the world"
New Center for Professionalism & Value in Health Care in Washington, DC
The American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) and the ABFM Foundation are pleased to announce the establishment of the Center for Professionalism and Value in Health Care based in Washington, D.C. The Center will be led by Robert Phillips, MD MSPH, who has been named as its founding Executive Director.
World Family Doctor day - 2018 feature
This year – 2018 – we chose as the key theme “Family doctors – leading the way to better health”. The WONCA Editor reports: Some activities have been submitted to the WONCA editor but of course this is just a small sample of the enormous worldwide activity on this day. Many items were also posted on Facebook and twitter.
Update: Family Medicine in Malawi
The Department of Family Medicine, at the University of Malawi College of Medicine was founded in 2011. A founding Faculty member for the department, Dr Luckson Dullie, was profiled on the WONCA website in 2013. John Parks MD is head of the Department of Family Medicine at University of Malawi College of Medicine in Malawi. Here he writes an update on Family Medicine in Malawi.
World Family Doctor Day -
May 19
World Family Doctor Day comes again on May 19 - celebrate our special day this year. We have chosen as the key theme “Family doctors – leading the way to better health”. Access resources, see Taiwan's 2018 poster and a message from Canada.
Rob Dijkstra - interviewed on The Netherlands' health system
Rob Dijkstra, President of the Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG) has recently been interviewed by Pere Vilanova from the Spanish Society of GPs (semFYC). “We can help patients to make right decisions by empowering them, I believe then it’s when we are really helping society”
Family Medicine in the World - Amanda Howe's keynote
Professor Amanda Howe, President of WONCA was invited to Algeria, in February 2018, by the Société Algérienne de Médecine Générale. This is the shortened English version of her very interesting keynote speech about ‘Family Medicine in the World’. Le version français est aussi disponible.
Kyle Hoedebecke: my experience working in Korea
Kyle Hoedebecke, inaugural chair of Polaris, the WONCA Young Doctors’ Movement in North America was recently selected as the US Army Physician of the Year. he has been working in South Korea for two years and here he talks of "My experience working in South Korea"
SIG Migrant Care new co-chair, Guus Busser
The WONCA Special Interest Group on Migrant Care, International Health & Travel Medicine has a new co-chair, Guus Busser, who joins existing chair, Maria van den Muijsenbergh. Who is Guus Busser?
South Asia region Montegut Scholar Report - Dr Veena Kumari
Dr Veena Kumari was a 2017 Montegut Scholarship winner for the WONCA South Asia Region. She has recently taken up a new job as an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine in Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. Dr Kumari attended the South Asia region conference in Nepal from 24-26 November 2017 as well as The Spice Route pre conference. Here she reports on her experience.
Pratyush Kumar on a Health Calendar for family doctors
Dr Pratyush Kumar, well known energetic leader of the WONCA South Asia Rural group (WoRSA) and Organising Secretary for the coming WONCA World Rural health conference in India has developed a health calendar for the new year. "I wanted to highlight gender equality out of the SDGs (January), as most of these diseases get lots of coverage, but gender equality as a health issue is much less discussed, although its vital to transform healthcare.".
Scandinavian Delegation celebrates 30 years of conferences
Dr Allan Pelch of Denmark, long time organiser / coordinator of the Scandinavian Delegation of Family Physicians which dates back to 1988 and the World WONCA Conference in New Orleans, reflects on 30 years of activities. "WONCA conferences lead to opportunities to meet other family physicians and learn about their experiences, collaborate on research and to visit local practices."
South Asia region Montegut Scholar Report - Dr Sanam Shah
Dr Sanam Shah of Pakistan was awarded the Montegut Scholarship for the South Asia region. She is the national secretary, Pakistan for the WONCA Spice Route Young Doctors’ Movement and attended the recent South Asia region conference in Nepal.
Asia Pacific region Montegut Scholar, Dr Mya Win Hnit
Dr Mya Win Hnit, of Myanmar, was selected as a Montegut scholarship winner to attend 2017 WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference, which was recently held on November 1‐4 in Pattaya, Thailand. He reports on his activities and proposed actions.
Young Doctors' Movements news - December 2017
As a new initiative, WONCA's Young Doctors' representative on World Executive, Ana Nunes Barata (Portugal), is coordinating regular news from our seven region Young Doctors' Movements. Not every region's movement will always provide news but each two months we hope to bring you news from some of the regions.
AAFP members help Puerto Rico colleagues
Kim Yu MD from the USA, is one amazing colleague. In just one week after the recent hurricane devastated Puerto Rico, Kim took to Facebook and drove a fundraising effort to help her collegues in Puerto Rico, raising over $62,000 from all the chapters of the American Academy of Family Physicians in just over one week,
Two WONCA leaders receive prestigious award from WPA
Professor Michael Kidd AM (left), WONCA Immediate Past President and Professor Gabriel Ivbijaro MBE (right), a former chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health have been awarded honorary membership of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA).
Award to Donald Li, President elect
Congratulations to our President-Elect, Dr Donald Li, who has been awarded the Silver Magnolia Award by the City of Shanghai, in recognition of his work in promoting and enhancing general practice in the city.
WONCA signs MOU with IPCRG
At the recent WONCA Europe conference in Prague, WONCA President, Professor Amanda Howe, signed a Memorandum of Understanding jointly with Dr Jaime Correia de Sousa, President of the International Primary Care Respiratory Group.
A practice visit in Prague by the WONCA Editor
Just before the opening ceremony of the WONCA Europe conference in Prague, the WONCA editor, Dr Karen Flegg, joined a group of four colleagues from Italy and one from the UK on a practice visit.
World Family Doctor day coming soon!
In only two weeks we celebrate World Family Doctor Day (FDD) on May 19. WONCA’s Member Organizations are making plans for their various celebrations and in June we hope to publish some of these.
Rural story on Northern Ireland crisis goes viral
In recent weeks a story on the Primary Care crisis in Northern Ireland written by our colleague Michael Smyth has stimulated enormous discussion on the WONCA Working Party on Rural practice google group. If you are not a member, find out what all the fuss is about as Michael writes for WONCA News.
WONCA Awards 2016 - winners
At the WONCA World conference in Rio, various WONCA award winners were announced. Many winners are well known leaders in WONCA and family medicine.
WONCA Executive 2016-18
WONCA World has a new Executive Committee who will serve until November 2016.Our first woman President,, Prof Amanda Howe, has just taken over from Prof Michael Kidd.
Marc Rivo, WONCA Fellow – what is he doing now?
Marc Rivo, MD MPH, past WONCA editor (2001-2010) of WONCA News, received the prestigious WONCA Fellowship, in Rio, in November 2016. The current WONCA Editor asked him to write about his activities and passions. Marc is President of the Southeast Region of the American Friends of Bar Ilan University, and supporter with his wife Karen of the BIU Medical School and its Department of Population Health. He has chosen to write about his involvement in the BIU hoping it is of interest to WONCA Members.
Visit to two Rio health clinics
WONCA Editor, Karen Flegg and WONCA South Asia Rural leader, Pratyush Kumar, paid visits to primary care clinics in the progressive Brazilian Health System. Here are their impressions.
Launched in Rio - Rio Statement and resources
The WONCA Rio statement was launched By Professor Michael Kidd at the opening ceremony of the WONCA World conference held recently in Rio. He also launched the following items developed in the last triennium.
Bursaries help colleagues to attend Rio
WONCA Europe and WONCA World organised a bursary call and offered funding for colleagues to attend the 21st WONCA World Conference and the 17 winners traveled to Rio de Janeiro
WONCA Rio statement 2016
At the WONCA World conference opening ceremony, in Rio de Janeiro, WONCA President, Prof Michael Kidd released the “Rio Statement” calling for all countries to increase the number of family doctors to achieve high quality comprehensive primary care and universal health coverage.
Rio - Meetings, Social events, Program
This page summarises important meetings and details particularly for Council delegates and members of WONCA Working Parties or Special Interest Groups. Also includes links to the preliminary program and social event summary.
Goodfellow Gems - an educational resource for FPs
WONCA is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Goodfellow Unit of the University of Auckland in New Zealand. As a result we will be promoting an educational resource "GoodFellow Gems" which are produced by the Goodfellow Unit.
Gabby Ivbijaro writes in Huffington Post about FGM
Well known WONCA identity and past chair of the Working Party on Mental Health, Prof Gabriel Ivbijaro MBE is now President of the World Federation for Mental Health, and has a new blog in the Huffington Post. His latest is reproduced here courtesy of the Huffington Post.
Karen Flegg - A very Danish practice experience.
WONCA editor, Karen Flegg, writes: The recent WONCA Europe conference provided an opportunity for attendees to undertake a visit to the practice of Danish colleagues. I was welcomed by Dr Gobind Kalsi and Dr Kristian Müller at their practice in Vesterbro, Copenhagen.
World Mental Health Day (October 10) educational material
World Mental Health Day (10 October) is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy. Professor Gabriel Ivbijaro current
President WFMH (World Federation for Mental Health) encourages us all to promote the day.
World Family Doctor Day 2016 celebrated worldwide
This year as always it seems World Family Doctor Day has grown in popularity. The theme of smoking cessation was taken up with enthusiasm as evidenced by some of the posters produced. Our feature is on the videos produced by WONCA’s young doctors’ movements
World Family Doctor Day comes on May 19
World Family Doctor Day is fast approaching. What is your WONCA Member Organization doing on May 19?
We already have some proposals for the day from Portugal, the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago), and Bangladesh.
World Mental Health Day 2016 theme
The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) announces the theme for World Mental Health Day coming on October 10, 2016: "Dignity in Mental Health - Psychological & Mental Health First Aid for All"
FM360 exchange hosts needed
Are you interested in hosting a young GP from overseas? The FM 360 program is looking for host practices particularly in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
This program is supported by WONCA and works thanks to the collaboration of the seven WONCA Young Doctors’ Movements.
Call for Submissions to Education for Primary Care - WONCA Edition
The journal Education for Primary Care aims to reflect the best experience, expertise and innovative ideas in the development of undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing primary care education.
The journal is currently seeking submissions for a 'WONCA' special edition.
WONCA Awards 2016
WONCA awards are available to assist doctors in attending the world conference in Rio de Janeiro. The awards include the Montagut scholarships, the WONCA foundation award and the Taiwan Family Medicine research award. Find out more about these awards and how to apply.
2016 – WONCA conferences
2016 sees a another WONCA world conference, this time coming to Rio, in November. There are also several regional events and events for young doctors so why not join us at a WONCA conference this year?
Drs Ramnik and Jyoti Parekh – Lifetime Achievement Award
At the recent conference of AFPI (Academy of Family Physicians of India) Ramnik and Jyoti were awarded the first AFPI Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their enormous contribution to family medicine development in the South Asia Region
The VdGM Compass: Navigating the Sea of Soci@l Media
Our aims in creating this ePDF, through using actual case studies in peer-to-peer social media usage, were to empower family doctors, GP trainees and medical students, enabling them to make good use of social media, and to develop professional social media strategies that support the maintenance of a healthy work/life balance
Condoléances à nos collègues en France
Le président de WONCA et le président de WONCA Europe ont tous deux adressé des messages de condoléances concernant les attentats dévastateurs de Paris à nos collègues en France au nom de la famille WONCA.
WONCA condolences to French colleagues
WONCA President, Michael Kidd and WONCA Europe President, Prof Job FM Metsemakers have sent messages of condolence to our colleagues in France on behalf of the greater WONCA family.
WONCA Europe feature- Istanbul conference, awards and more
WONCA Europe region held its annual conference in Istanbul during October and as a result WONCA News for November sees a focus on WONCA Europe. Harris Lygidakis, WONCA Europe Hon Secretary, reports on the conference. "Returning from the WONCA Europe conference in Istanbul, we look back at an amazing organizational feat, led by Okay Basak, Dilek Guldal, Mehmet Ungan and Resat Dabak, which saw the participation of more than 3,600 colleagues, more than 1,000 of whom being junior doctors or trainees."
One year of Occupational Health
A little over one year ago, WONCA News began a regular feature on the subject of Occupational Health including useful resources for clinical practice. Peter Buijs (right) & Frank van Dijk (left) are the promotors and main authors. Here we review the items published so far.
Chloé Perdrix writes: the final leg of a journey
Chloé Perdrix is a young French GP who has taken a sabbatical year travelling around Asia. In order to stay in touch with the medical network, she has tried to meet general practitioners during this journey. This is her final article - Primary care in Mongolia and Russia and reflections about my future in Family medicine.
Feature: How students can change realities?
I am a medical student and like most students I have had a lot of concerns.
In 2010 in my first year at the Medical School I was disappointed. The University was not exactly what I expected ...
Occupational Health - China and Thailand
WONCA News has begun a regular feature on the subject of Occupational Health. Peter Buijs & Frank van Dijk are the promotors and main authors. IIn this edition, they tell about two good practices, where PHC is paying more attention to work issues, coming from two newly industrialized countries: China and Thailand.
WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice feature
This month we make a special rural feature in WONCA News. In April, the WONCA world rural health conference was held in Dubrovnik and our very active WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice formally met. The WWPRP is chaired by Dr John Wynn-Jones of Wales and he and Dr Jo Scott-Jones of New Zealand have fueled such a wave of enthusiasm from working party members that we have decided to make a special rural feature in this month's WONCA News.
Reports from World Family Doctor Day
This year World Family Doctor day (FDD) has been celebrated by more people in more countries. We have been overwhelmed by the number of activities notified. This year we have chosen to feature celebrations from Nepal, as despite the very recent devastation of their country by two earthquakes, the general practitioners of Nepal made a celebration of World Family Doctor day and used it to pay tribute to the victims of the recent tragedy.
Rural Heroes project launched in Dubrovnik
At the WONCA World Rural Health Conference in Dubrovnik we made the first presentations of stories of some of your rural heroes. Two of those stories are shared this month in WONCA News - Dr Andrija Štampar and Dr John MacLeod.
Welcome to Rural Health in Dubrovnik
The WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice is holding the WONCA World Rural Health conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia this week. Welcome messages were given by the WONCA President and also WONCA Europe Vice President, Anna Stavdal.
World Family Doctor Day - May 19 is our day to celebrate
There are two suggested themes for this year's World Family Doctor Day - “A family doctor for every family” and “Universal Health Coverage”. We also have a new logo and posters which can be downloaded. Read the CEO's message.
Family Medicine Ethiopia Highlights
Dr Dawit Wondimagegn and Dr Brian Cornelson provide an update on the progress of the growth of family medicine in Ethiopia. An oft-quoted Ethiopian proverb is that ‘Slowly slowly the egg will (hatch and) walk.’ This egg is now walking!
Chloé Perdrix writes: primary care in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
Chloé Perdrix, a young French GP is travelling around Asia. This month she visits the WONCA secretariat in Bangkok and then travels to Laos and Cambodia. "After Thailand, a new adventure began. We decided to go to Vientiane, capital of Laos and buy two bikes to cycle along Mekong river to its delta, in Vietnam... "
Common mental health disorders: what about work?
WONCA News has begun a regular feature on the subject of Occupational Health including useful resources for clinical practice. In this contribution, Frank and Peter present reflections for the GP when confronted with ‘common mental disorders’ related to work.
WONCA Annual Report 2013-14
WONCA CEO, Dr Garth Manning has announced WONCA's first ever Annual Report covering the period July 2013 to June 2014 - produced to keep our Member Organizations, Organizations in Collaborative Relationship, Direct Members, and other interested organizations and individuals informed of the progress of WONCA,
between World Council meetings.
Pledge on Worker’s Health - a ten year incubation period
In the Pledge on Workers’ Health (made by WONCA and the International Commission on Occupational Health, both organisations state their intent to start addressing, together with the WHO, “gaps in services, research and policies for the health and safety of workers, and better integrate occupational health in primary care settings, to the benefit of all workers and their families.”
Michael Kidd honoured by his peers
WONCA President, Professor Michael Kidd was today honoured by his Australian peers. He received the the Rose-Hunt Award - the highest accolade awarded by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). He also delivered a memorable oration at the Academic Session of the RACGP conference
Primary Health Care & Workers’ Health
In coming months, WONCA News will feature regular articles on the subject of Occupational Health including useful resources for clinical practice. This month we revisit the recent statement on worker’s health.
Chloé Perdrix - a French GP travels Asia
Dr Chloe Perdrix is a young GP from France who has embarked on a year of travel in Asia, finding out about working in other countries. This is the introduction to her story which WONCA News will follow for the next year.
Ramnik and Jyoti Parekh create a scholarship for young doctors
Drs Ramnik and Jyoti Parekh have created a scholarship for young family medicine doctors in the South Asia region towards supporting their participation in regional exchanges, global exchange program FM360 and WONCA conferences. Find out more about Ramnik and Jyoti and the scholarship.
WONCA president and editor visit clinic near Lisbon
While in Lisbon to attend the recent WONCA Europe conference, the WONCA President, Michael Kidd and WONCA editor, Karen Flegg, were invited by local GP, Dr Carlos Canhota, to visit his unit which is part of a health centre and meet some of the staff. Our visit was to the ACES Lisboa Ocidental e Oeiras.
MH 17: WONCA grieves
WONCA is greatly saddened by the tragic loss of Malaysian Airlines Flight 017 and the dreadful loss of life.
WONCA's Lisbon Declaration
On July 6, 2014 at the closing ceremony of the WONCA Europe conference in Lisbon, the Lisbon Declaration was signed by WONCA Europe President, Prof Job F M Metsemakers; President of the Portuguese Association of General Practice and Family Medicine, Prof João Sequeira Carlos; and Dr Peter Sloane, incoming President of the Vasco da Gama Movement.
Family Doctor day - more reports
World Family Doctor day has generated a lot of interest from around the globe. More reports have been received from Bangladesh, the Caribbean, Lebanon and Turkey
Rural health clinic visits in Kuching, Malaysia
At the recent WONCA Asia Pacific region conference, visits to rural health clinics were offered by the Host Organising Committee. The WONCA Editor joined another Australian colleague and four colleagues from Japan on one of the visit programs.
"At the doctor's side"- a documentary trilogy
Well known Swiss family doctor, Dr Bruno Kissling is this month's featured doctor. His work as a family doctor was recently filmed in one of three documentaries made by Dr Sylviane Gindrat about the working life of six Swiss family doctors - "At the Doctor's Side"
Rich Roberts finishes on WONCA Executive
The recent WONCA Executive meeting in London marked the end of many years of service to WONCA by Prof Richard Roberts. Rich began his service on Executive in 2004 ..
WONCA adds name to family violence statement
At the recent WHO executive board (EB) meeting in Geneva, WONCA was represented by President Michael Kidd, President Elect, Amanda Howe, and WONCA -WHO Liaison, Lusia Pettigrew. They added WONCA's name to a statement being made to the WHO EB - on family violence.
WONCA tribute to past president Peter CY Lee
We are grateful for his leadership and support to WONCA throughout the years as President of the World WONCA (1992-1995) as well as serving WONCA in numerous other capacities. WONCA has indeed lost a good friend, a leader and a great supporter.
Help for our Filipino colleagues
The president of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians tells the WONCA family how they plan to assist colleagues affected by Typhoon Haiyan and how we can financially assist them.
Launch of the WHO's Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020
World Mental Health Day took place on 10th October. Three days prior to this during the annual Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) Forum which brings together the WHO Secretariat, member states and international partners, the WHO launched its Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020.
Family Medicine 360 - young doctors' exchanges
Family Medicine 360 is a global, international exchange program for Junior Family Doctors and General Practitioners, who would like to experience Primary Health Care in a different country.
Policy bite - universal health coverage
Professor Amanda Howe, our new President–Elect, said in her speech at the WONCA Council that she would help with policy messages. She now takes up that challenge with her regular Policy Bites column - this being her second column.
WHO survey for primary care providers
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) want to hear about your experiences providing primary care health services.
WONCA awards in Prague
In Prague, WONCA Fellowship and WONCA Honorary Direct Life membership recipients were announced.
Rural round-up - August 13
The first of a monthly update from the WONCA Working Party on rural practice - keeping up the pace, our next triennium.
Prague keynote presentations
Did you enjoy listening to Michael Kidd, Amanda Howe, Igor Svab or Karen Kinder in Prague? They have made their presentations available.
Hernán Montenegro de la OMS en el Consejo WONCA
En la reciente reunión del Consejo Mundial de WONCA en Praga, Hernán Montenegro, MD, MPH, Asesor de Sistemas de Salud de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, Ginebra, se dirigió el Consejo Mundial de la WONCA en relación al trabajo en el contexto internacional con la OMS, entre otras cuestiones.
Dr Margaret Chan speaks to family doctors in Prague
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 20th WONCA world conference in Prague, Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization, said how happy she was to be in Prague speaking to thousands of family doctors.
WONCA Executive 2013-1016
WONCA World Council met from 22-24 June and finalised the new executive of WONCA for the 2013-2016 triennium.
WONCA Guidebook launched
The WONCA Guidebook: "The Contribution of Family Medicine to Improving Health Systems: A guidebook from the World Organization of Family Doctors, Second Edition" was launched yesterday by Dr Margaret Chan.
HOC Chair Prague: Bohumil Seifert
With the WONCA World conference being held in Prague later in June 2013, this month we feature the Host Organising Committee Chair, A/Prof Bohumil Seifert MD PhD
South Asia Research Methodology Workshop
The first National Conference on Family Medicine and Primary Care was organised by Academy of Family Physicians of India in collaboration with The Spice Route Movement and supported by WONCA. The Research Methodology workshop held during the conference was organised by the South Asia Primary Care Research Network.
See you in Prague video
The latest YouTube video from the Prague conference team is now available. Dont forget Early Bird registration ends May 24.
Latest WONCA Prague eNews
The latest eNews for WONCA 2013 Prague World conference: includes latest scientific program information, facts about Prague, fun run scheduled for Thursday June 27
Junior researcher award announced
The 2013 edition of the Vasco da Gama Movement's Junior Researcher Award will be given to three junior champions in family medicine research.
South Asia research conference a big success
The International Research Methodology Conference for Primary Care Physicians was held on January 19–20, 2013. The theme of the conference was Strengthening Primary Care Research through Family Doctors. This event was two days’ of hands-on workshop covering all the important topics of research methodology.
Prague World Preconference for young family doctors
A World Preconference, which will be held in Prague on June 24–25, 2013, prior to the WONCA World Conference is organized jointly by the Vasco da Gama Movement, the Rajakumar Movement, the Waynakay Movement, the Spice Route and the First Five Years in Family Practice in Canada. It is open to trainees and junior General Practitioners / Family Physicians (GPs/FPs), up to five years after their qualification.
Primafamed Network - Africa statement
This document reflects the work at the 5th annual conference of the Primafamed-network. It provides an analysis of the PHC context in sub-Saharan Africa and strategic ways to strengthen PHC. Taking into account the diversity in Africa, not all issues, proposals, topics are relevant to all African countries.
Lucy Candib – WONCA North America Five Star Doctor
WONCA North America region Five Star Doctor for 2012 is Dr Lucy Candib. She is a serving physician who has practiced for 35 years and who in addition to providing regular family physician comprehensive service including obstetrics, also provides innovative services to her community, to her colleagues in other countries such as Ecuador and through WONCA, and performs academic work (teaching, research, quality assurance) of exceptional quality and relevance.
Unveiling the speakers for WONCA Prague
Find out more about the key note speakers for the WONCA world conference to be held in Prague, in June 2013? Dr Margaret Chan join an impressive list of speakers. Who will speak on "Do we dare to be different?" Submit your own story for the plenary on "Doctors' health and wellbeing".
AAFP Global Health Workshop gains more international interest
The American Academy of Family Physicians Center for International Health Initiatives (AAFP-CIHI) held its annual Family Medicine Global Health Workshop, in Minneapolis, September 6-8. This year’s workshop again served as a forum for AAFP members and international participants to elaborate and reflect upon the growing importance of family medicine and primary care as foundational to global health.
From the WONCA Editor: Interviews with three WONCA leaders
This month, the WONCA editor, Dr Karen Flegg, presents interviews of three WONCA leaders.
New WONCA CEO, Dr Garth Manning tells out about his new staff and first impressions of WONCA.
Dr David Game, President of WONCA from 1983-86 reflects on the past.
Prof Job Metsemakers, secretary of WONCA Europe is interviewed about himself and life as a family doctor in the Netherlands.
An interview with the new WONCA CEO
The Wonca Editor recently had the opportunity to interview the new WONCA CEO, Dr Garth Manning and find out about his new staff and first impressions of WONCA.
An interview with Dr David Game, Past President of WONCA
Past President of WONCA, Dr David Game was recently interviewed by the WONCA editor about his perspectives on WONCA past, and present. It was a priviledge and a joy to spend some time with an elder of WONCA, whose memory of days past seems unfaded by the years. Read more about David and past days of WONCA.
An interview with Professor Job FM Metsemakers - Secretary of WONCA Europe
Professor Job FM Metsemakers generously agreed to be interviewed by the WONCA editor, in Vienna, in July 2012. He has been secretary of WONCA Europe for five years. This interview ended with the editor asking why WONCA colleagues might be interested in Job’s story. Job’s reply was: “After all, I am just an ordinary guy….”. But most WONCA colleagues are not ordinary, so we leave it to the reader to decide.
A Nordic PhD: Clinical inertia or collective resistance?
A recently published PhD dissertation from Icelandic general practitioner Hálfdán Pétursson may provide some answers to the long time conflict between general practitioners and cardiovascular specialists, on risk factor thresholds for primary cardiovascular prevention.
Vasco da Gama junior researcher award
The Junior Researcher Award aims to promote a
generation of junior GP/FM doctors who include research skills with patient care as a life time career. This award honours outstanding research proposals from trainees or junior GPs/ family physicians with up to five years working experience after graduation.
WONCA awards nominations
Professor Michael Kidd, WONCA President Elect and chair of the Nominating and Awards Committee has made the call to WONCA Member Organizations to make nominations for the various WONCA awards to be presented at the world conference, being held in Prague, in 2013. The awards are:
• WONCA Fellowship
• WONCA Honorary Direct Life membership
• WONCA Foundation Award and
• WONCA 5 Star Doctor Award
WONCA and WHO News
Towards the 2023 UN High-level meeting
The upcoming 2023 UN High-level meeting on universal health coverage, scheduled for September, presents a significant platform for countries and stakeholders to revitalize their efforts in achieving health for all
From the President: June 2023 | WONCA and WHO
If Universal Health Care (UHC) is to be achieved, given the crucial role of Primary Care in bringing about this change, contributing the technical expertise of Family Medicine Doctors to the work of the World Health Organisation (WHO) is a priority aim for our organisation.
WONCA meetings at the 76th World Health Assembly
WONCA President Anna Stavdal, CEO Harris Lygidakis, and Executive Member at Large and WHO Liaison, Prof Val Wass participated in a series of strategic meetings with WHO experts and representatives of other civil society organizations that have collaborative relationships with WONCA, to explore and identify potential areas of collaboration.
WHA76: Enhancing Noncommunicable Disease Care
WONCA representatives joined Dr Bente Mikkelsen, director of the division of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO, Dr Slim Slama, unit leader at the NCDs Department, and Alarcos Cieza, responsible for the Vision, Audition, Disability and Rehabilitation Department
WONCA Heads to Geneva for 76th World Health Assembly
This is an is an excellent opportunity for them to engage in discussions on global public health issues, collaborate with other organizations, and participate in important decisions affecting the WHO's policies and priorities.
WHO News: Fifth Global Forum on Human Resources 2023
We invite you to register for and attend the "Rural Pathways: Advancing Equitable Access for Health Workers in Rural and Remote Areas" session, featuring distinguished speakers Dr Özden Gökdemir, Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Environment, and Prof Bruce Chater, Chair for the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice
What Is the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB)?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on human lives, economies, and societies. To avoid a repeat of the past, the international community should collaborate to be much better prepared and aligned in responding to possible future pandemic threats
WONCA at the 75th World Health Assembly
The Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly, held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 22-28 May 2022, was the first in-person Health Assembly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHA75: Constituency Statement on Strengthening WHO Preparedness - WHF
This constituency statement is delivered by the World Heart Federation on behalf of the Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control, International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations, International Diabetes Federation, International Pharmaceutical Students Federation, International Society of Nephrology, World Hypertension League, and World Obesity Federation. It is also supported by the World Organization of Family Doctors and World Stroke Organization.
WHA75: Constituency Statement on Human Resources for Health
The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the critical importance of health workers to strengthen health systems and global health security. It has highlighted women’s central role in delivering health services, since women are 70% health workers, and 90% of frontline health workers.
Statement on WHO’s Work in Health Emergencies
The Global Coalition for Circulatory Health Members – of which WONCA is a member – delivers a statement on the occasion of the 150th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board
World Health Day 2021
Under the theme «Building a fairer and healthier world», this year's campaign tackles current inequities in healthcare conditions, highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
WONCA at the 148th WHO Executive Board Session
WONCA participated in the 148th session of the Executive Board of the WHO with statements that addressed important items of the agenda such as Global Action on Patient Safety, Public Health Emergencies: Preparedness and Response and Mental Health Preparedness and Response for the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Rethinking European Health Systems Priorities, - FM represented!
Dr Anna Stavdal, WONCA President-elect, recently represented family medicine at the WHO Pan-European Commission which aims to position health at the top of the political agenda within the Sustainable Development Goals, and to strengthen the resilience of health and social care systems in the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region.
World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) 17 September 2020
World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) 2020 will be observed across the world on 17 September. WHO will be launching a global campaign for World Patient Safety Day 2020 to emphasize the importance of health worker safety as a priority for patient safety.
WONCA-WHO Liaison Annual report
The following is a short version of this report to be published in the 2020 WONCA Annual report. WHO liaison person, Viviana Martinez-Bianchi writes:
Statement of support for WHO
WONCA has released the following statement (endorsed by WONCA Executive) outlining its support for WHO in the current coronavirus pandemic.
Report of the World Health Assembly, May 2020
WONCA-WHO Liaison person, Dr Viviana Martinez-Bianchi reports: the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA73) was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic on May 18 and 19, 2020, with a reduced agenda dedicated only to the Pandemic response.
WHO resources on COVID-19
WHO has developed numerous resources on COVID-19. An indicative list follows: research database; technical documents and a training course.
WONCA Africa and WHO AFRO hold successful meeting
A two-day consultative meeting was held at the WHO AFRO offices in Congo Brazaville on the 13-14 August 2019. This meeting came as a result of the active participation of Dr Prosper Tumussime at the WONCA Africa conference in June 2019, in Kampala, Uganda. The need for WONCA Africa and WHO AFRO to work together to strengthen health systems in African countries became apparent.
The UN High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage
Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, WONCA Executive Member-at Large and WHO Liaison person was the WONCA Delegate to the UN High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage. September 23, 2019. Now we have a political declaration signed by all member countries of the UN. WONCA invites member organisations to review the declaration
PHC Measurement and Improvement Initiative of the WHO EMRO
The first consultation meeting of the Primary Health Care Measurement and Improvement Initiative of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region was held in Cairo WHO EMRO regional office. It was great to see WONCA EMR being given equal billing on this initiative with WHO EMRO, UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (which is funding this initiative).
WHO Emphasis on PHC gains international support
Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, MD, WONCA WHO liaison person, recently attended the World Health Assembly (WHA) as part of the WONCA delegation and submits this report from WHA72. This is my third year in Geneva as WONCA’s WHO Liaison, and I perceived a difference this time. A real and new awareness that what the world needs to improve health outcomes is for the majority of care to be delivered by Primary Health Care (PHC), through the work of interdisciplinary teams, and that these teams need to be well trained, well organized, well supported and well-funded to succeed.
Medication without harm – A WHO meeting
Dr Ruth Wilson of Canada, reports on the WHO consultative meeting “Implementing WHO’s Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication without harm. Country guidance.” The meeting took place from November 22 – 23, 2018, in Geneva.
WHO NCD Knowledge Action Portal launched
It is with great pleasure that the WHO GCM/NCD Secretariat has announced that the Knowledge Action Portal has officially launched. This is a community driven platform for NCD information, interaction and inspiration.
WONCA reaction to Astana Declaration
WONCA was represented at the "Global Conference on Primary Health Care", in Astana, Kazakhstan by the President, Immediate Past President, President- Elect, Young Doctor Movement representative, and two Executive Members-at-large. WONCA notes that the Declaration no longer includes the specific mentioning of family doctors or any other members of the primary healthcare teams. The prior public draft did include different disciplines needed in the Primary Health Care (PHC) team, but these have all been removed in the final version signed by Member States. Wehad hoped and strongly advocated for Family Medicine to be specifically included in the declaration.
WONCA Asia Pacific Statements at October WHO Regional Committee
The Sixty-Eighth Session of the Regional Office for the WHO Western Pacific (WPRO) 68th Regional Committee was held in Brisbane, Australia 9–13 October 2017. WONCA was repesented by WONCA Executive member Dr Karen Flegg. WONCA submitted four written statements.
WHO Global campaign: Medication Without Harm
Building on the launch of the Global Patient Safety Challenge “Medication Without Harm”, WHO has developed a campaign to increase public awareness of the safety issues related to medication use and the need for safer medication practices. The call for action of the global campaign is “KNOW. CHECK. ASK.”
WONCA EMR meets WHO EMRO, in Cairo, in September
WONCA's East Mediterranean region (EMR) delegate conducted a meeting with WHO EMRO Regional Director and his team in Cairo, Egypt.The participants agreed about the importance of collaborative work among WHO and WONCA to reorient towards Universal Health Care, and bring family medicine as a vehicle, conducting national workshops will help countries to develop national action plans to scale up family practice working in two parallel paths - the fast track and the long term plans taking into consideration, approaching universities and higher education ministries.
WONCA Europe statements at WHO Regional Committee
The 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe was held in Budapest on 10th - 14th September 2017.
WONCA Europe has released a statement on Family Medicine, focusing on the educational needs (both undergraduate and postgraduate) and the policies for retaining and, when necessary, supporting the migration and emigration of family doctors. The statement was delivered by Dr Anna Stavdal, President of WONCA Europe.
70th World Health Assembly Report
WONCA was represented at the 70th World Health Assembly by Amanda Howe (WONCA President), Donald Li (WONCA President-Elect), Garth Manning (WONCA CEO) and Viviana Martinez-Bianchi (WONCA-WHO Liaison).
Rural round up: The development of the Rural Family Medicine Café
Mayara Floss is a keynote speaker at the WONCA World Rural health conference coming to Cairns, Australia from 29 April- 2 May 2017. she created the Rural Family Medicine Café to provide a forum to discuss Rural Health and has now written a "how to" manual so others can expand on the rural cafe movement
WHO Technical Series on Safer Primary Care
The Technical Series on Safer Primary Care is a series of nine monographs, which explore the magnitude and nature of harm of each topic in the primary care setting, and provides potential solutions and practical next steps for improvement.
Viviana Martinez-Bianchi – new WONCA WHO Liaison
Dr Viviana Martinez-Bianchi from USA and Argentina was elected in Rio, as a Member-at-Large on the WONCA World executive and is the new WONCA WHO Liaison person. She reports on the WHO presence and presentations at our recent World conference in Rio.
WHO Framework on integrated people-centred health services website
At the Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly Member States officially adopted the Framework on integrated people-centred health services (IPCHS) and its supporting resolution, formally giving the WHO Secretariat the mandate to work across the organization to support the implementation, national adaptation and operationalization of the Framework. The new website aims to be a steward for the Framework
High-level UN Commission recommends reform of health systems
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set an ambitious agenda to improve the lives of all. Recent outbreaks have additionally confirmed the urgency of building resilient health systems and strengthening global health security. Health workers and health employment reside at the heart of the SDG agenda.
WHO EMRO video on family practice
WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office has produced an advocacy video on family practice. Prof Michael Kidd, WONCA President, was invited to provide some words from WONCA for inclusion in the video
WHO Framework on integrated people-centred health services
On 28 May 2016 at the Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly, WHO Member States officially adopted the Framework on integrated people-centred health services (IPCHS) and its resolution on “Strengthening integrated, people-centred health services”, formally giving the WHO Secretariat the mandate to work on this new programmatic area.
WONCA delegation at the 69th World Health Assembly
WONCA was represented at the 69th World Health Assembly by Michael Kidd, Amanda Howe, Garth Manning and Luisa Pettigrew. During the WHA this year new resolutions were adopted on a host of topics from the Sustainable Development Goals to Mycetoma. Margaret Chan, Director General, during her speech highlighted approval of the new programme for health emergencies. She welcomed the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and member states’ commitment to universal health coverage. The Zika outbreak featured frequently in discussions.
High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth
WONCA has provided a submission to the Commission through the recent public call for contributions issued by the Expert Group of the Commission, and Professor Ruth Wilson (WONCA President North America region) participated in a face-to-face consultation with health professional organisations on 11th April in Geneva.
WHO document "Communicating radiation risks in paediatric imaging"
WHO has just published the document “Communicating radiation risks in paediatric imaging: Information to support health care discussions about benefit and risk”. This document is intended to be a tool for health care providers to communicate about risks associated with paediatric imaging procedures.
WHO EMRO reports on WONCA conference
The WHO intranet reports on the recent WONCA East Mediterranean region conference.. and do watch the great video "Family practice: towards universal health coverage."
WHO short survey on Universal Health Coverage
Call for contributions! – short survey with a short deadline (15 February)! You can help WHO to better understand people’s needs and values about UHC. Your contribution, by completing this short survey of four questions, will offer new insights into how health systems can be more responsive, accessible and of high-quality in your context.
From the CEO's desk: recent and future meetings
This month the WONCA CEO reflects on two WHO meetings that he has been to recently (on cardiovascular disease and ageing & health respectively) as well as next year's WONCA conferences. Finally, at the end of the year, seasons greetings are extended to all colleagues
WHO call to protect health from climate change
With less than two weeks away from the climate change negotiations in Paris (COP-21), please take a moment, if you haven’t done so, and sign the WHO Call to Action on health and climate change
WHO mental health guidelines updated
The World Health Organisation has recently updated its mhGAP guidelines for the management of common mental health problems in low and middle income countries.
WONCA works closely with WHO and offers consultancy services in support of mhGAP.
Meeting considers exposure to radiation through medical imaging
WONCA is concerned about the impact of exposure to radiation through medical imaging, and the risks of unnecessary exposure due to inappropriate or excessive investigations. WONCA has been working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to look at ways to improve the appropriateness of imaging, and to measure each person's cumulative exposure to radiation from imaging.
WONCA EMR president at WHO regional committee
WONCA East Mediterranean Region president, Dr Mohammed Tarawneh, was invited to participate in the 61st session of the WHO regional committee for the WHO East Mediterranean region (EMRO) which was held in Tunis from 19-22 October 2014.
The Science and Practice of People-Centred Health Systems
The Third Global Symposium on Health Systems Research took place in Cape Town during the first week of October. The symposium aims to bring people together to work towards delivering more evidence-based policy making in health, with a focus principally on low and middle income countries
WONCA at the WHO South Asia regional committee
Health Organization's (WHO) Regional committee for South East Asia (SEAR) was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from September 9-12, 2014. WONCA was represented by Professor Pratap Narayan Prasad, WONCA South Asia region (SAR) president.
EMR Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases in Primary Health Care
WONCA EMR president, Dr Mohammed Tarawneh, and Dr Oraib Alsmadi, WONCA EMR honorary treasurer, were invited as temporary advisors to attend the WHO EMR meeting on strengthening the integration and management of noncommunicable diseases in primary health care
A virtual dialogue on the training of specialists in family medicine
A group of family doctors had the opportunity to participate, in a virtual dialogue on the training of specialists in Family Medicine under universal coverage “Diálogo Virtual sobre la formación de especialistas en Medicina Familiar en el marco de la Cobertura Universal de Salud”. This event was promoted by PAHO.
Ebola Outbreak: WHO meeting, resources and more
The WHO Emergency committee met this month and it was the unanimous view of the committee that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern have been met. While WHO meet about Ebola, WONCA identity Atai Omorutu works in Liberia with victims, and the WHO and Harrison's textbook offer free resources of interest to GPs/FPs.
Donald Li talks on China's health reform
Dr Donald Li, WONCA Executive member-at-large, was invited by World Health Organization and World Bank to participate in a meeting to discuss about China's Healthcare reform.
From the President: Innovation in family medicine
As family doctors we are also innovative thinkers, and, like Prince Henry, we have the ability to change the world through our work and our influence. Over the past month I have had the opportunity to visit family doctors in Portugal and also in Ireland ...
WONCA at the World Health Assembly 2014
The 67th World Health Assembly took place in the Palais des Nations, Geneva the week beginning 19th May 2014, fittingly also World Family Doctor Day! Over the course of the 19th and 20th May WONCA's delegation participated in over a dozen meetings with WHO staff and other non-governmental organisation
mhGAP - a WHO mental health resource
The mhGAP Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG), developed based on WHO recommendations, contains clinical protocols for management of priority conditions by non-specialist health care providers.
Latest on WONCA and the WHO
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board meeting which takes place every January and World Health Assembly in May in Geneva stand out as crucial events during the course of the year to mark the agenda for future WHO activities and bring together representatives from the 194 member states’ ministries of health as well as other stakeholders. WONCA as a non-governmental organisation in official relations with the WHO is invited to participate.
WONCA adds name to family violence statement
At the recent WHO executive board (EB) meeting in Geneva, WONCA was represented by President Michael Kidd, President Elect, Amanda Howe, and WONCA -WHO Liaison, Lusia Pettigrew. They added WONCA's name to a statement being made to the WHO EB - on family violence.
WHO launch of MiNDbank online platform
World Health Organization officially launched the MiNDbank online platform on the 10th December, Human Rights Day 2013. WHO MiNDbank is a product of the QualityRights Project, WHO’s flagship campaign to improve care and end human rights violations against people with mental and psychosocial disabilities.
From the President: a visit to Brazil
Brazil is a global leader in addressing universal health coverage through family medicine teams. In November, in one of the favelas (“shanty towns”) of Rio de Janeiro, I had the opportunity to meet with family doctor Euclides Colaço and his colleagues.
Launch of the WHO's Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020
World Mental Health Day took place on 10th October. Three days prior to this during the annual Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) Forum which brings together the WHO Secretariat, member states and international partners, the WHO launched its Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020.
Health 2020: A European policy framework and strategy
Health 2020 is a policy framework aimed at providing European politicians and policy-makers key strategic advice to support action for improving health, well-being and health equity, in a way that is sensitive to each country’s situation, political and organisational circumstances.
WHO survey for primary care providers
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) want to hear about your experiences providing primary care health services.
Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions - PAHO report
The new PAHO/WHO report, Innovative care for chronic conditions: Organizing and delivering high quality care for chronic noncommunicable diseases in the Americas, proposes an integrated Chronic Care Model for addressing NCDs in the context of primary health care
PMNCH 2012 Report
The PMNCH 2012 Report - Analysing Progress on Commitments to the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health reviews progress on commitments made by 220 stakeholders to the UN Secretary-General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health.
Pan American Health Organization meeting on NCDs
The meeting, held May 7 and 8, brought together members of the CARMEN (Set of Actions for the Multisectoral Reduction of Non-communicable Diseases) network to discuss how to transform the declaration signed at last year's United Nations High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases into policies, programs, and concrete actions.
Conference News and Reports
Dr Anna Stavdal's Farewell at WONCA 2023
Dr Anna Stavdal, our now Immediate Past-President, delivered a heartfelt farewell address during the Awards and Handover ceremony at the WONCA World Conference 2023 in Sydney, Australia.
WONCA Sydney HOC Chair: November 2023
We recovered; we reconnected, and we revitalized our sense of selves in the world of Family Doctors at Sydney’s Darling Harbour at the World conference recently. We had a final attendance of 4438 delegates and 117 countries represented from the WONCA world.
World’s GP bodies call on to act urgently on climate emergency
GP and health bodies representing three million health professionals worldwide are urging international leaders to safeguard the health of global populations from the climate crisis in an open letter, launched on day three of the WONCA World Conference in Sydney
WONCA Sydney HOC Chair: October 2023
With less than a month to go and many of you coming from faraway I hope thoughts are now turning to our much-anticipated Conference. A world conference that is a YEAR late and is still ironically the 50th Year Celebration of WONCA
WONCA Sydney 2023: August Update
With almost two months to go until this year's conference, make sure to check out the final program, which includes a number of additional workshops
Join the RMA23 in Hobart, Tasmania
The conference will bring together a global community of Rural Generalists, rural consultant specialists, students, doctors in training, supervisors, medical educators and allied-health practitioners to celebrate your passion for delivering safe, culturally appropriate and consistent healthcare to rural and remote communities.
WONCA Sydney HOC Chair: February 2023
As the Host Organising Committee Chair of the WONCA World conference coming to Sydney from October 26 – 29, 2023, Dr Karen Price invites you to celebrate the wonder of Family and Community Medicine.
President-elect: Thinking of WONCA 2023
During the last week of November I attended the annual conference of my own college - the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP). Next year, the RACGP is honoured to be hosting the world conference of WONCA, in conjunction with our own conference.
WONCA Sydney Call for Submissions is now OPEN!
WONCA will bring together family doctors, GPs and primary healthcare specialists from around the world so don’t miss your chance to be involved the largest global gathering of primary care professionals.
Save your spot for WONCA Europe 2021
Find out more about WONCA Europe 2021 Virtual Conference and make sure you save your spot for Europe’s Top Conference for General Practitioners!
Editor's pick: reports and photos of WONCA conferences
Karen Flegg writes: As part of finishing up my role as WONCA editor by the end of the year, I wish to reflect on the great joy and wonderful times I have experienced in attending WONCA conferences over the last 10 years. My Editor's Picks: Photos of Individuals, and Editors Picks: Photos of Groups received wonderful feedback and of course these photos of my colleagues were taken at WONCA conferences. Below you will find various conference reports from past years' WONCA conferences.
Presenting the Remote and Rural Institute Series
The joint WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice (Rural WONCA) and Toward Unity for Health (TUFH) Institute Series is being launched as part of the 17th Wonca World Rural Health Conference over four months starting 16th October with the conference opening ceremony.
Farewell to the Scandinavian Delegation of Family Physicians
Dr Allan Pelch, of Denmark, has led the Scandinavian Delegations of Family Physicians to dozens of conferences over the past 22 years. After this remarkable effort over many years, Allan is now retiring and reflect on the joys of these delegations.
Virtual 2020 Besrour Family Medicine Forum
The Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine (Centre) at the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) invites you to participate at the Virtual 2020 Family Medicine Forum taking place Wednesday, November 4 to Saturday, November 7, 2020.
17th World Rural health conference to go ahead - virtually
Rural WONCA executive has met and decided that the conference must go on – but virtually. After much consideration, the Executive have decided that with COVID-19 spreading rapidly, it is not sensible or prudent to have a physical gathering of rural doctors in Dhaka. Doctors are needed by their rural communities now more than ever.
WONCA New Zealand 2020 conference postponed
It is with regret that the Board of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners has today announced the postponement of WONCA NZ 2020 based on the uncertainty around COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
WONCA / Besrour prizes for emerging researchers
Awards of $5000 (USD) for the best oral presentation, and $2000 (USD) for the best poster presentation, are being generously provided by Dr Sadok Besrour from the Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine at the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Professor Meng-Chih Lee's Bursary for WONCA Auckland applications
We are pleased to announce a call for applications for the Prof Meng-Chih Lee's Asia Pacific Region Presidential Bursary to financially support two family physicians registered to attend the WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2020, in Auckland, New Zealand
Make WONCA APR conference in NZ your 2020 resolution
Now that 2020 is underway, it’s only a few months until the WONCA APR Conference lands in Auckland, New Zealand. We are excited to have Professor Ian Couper on board as one of our keynote speakers at WONCA this April.
Bursary Winners for Abu Dhabi
The WONCA World confernece 2020 host organising committee has offered 30 bursaries for young doctors, which were distributed among the seven young doctor’s regions after a careful selection process.
WONCA Rural Bangladesh 2020 extends deadlines
John Wynn-Jones, Immediate Past Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice encourages support for the coming WONCA World Rural Health conference in Bangladesh, from April 15-18, 2020. Deadlines for abstract submission and early bird registration are still open.
Do not miss the 25th WONCA Europe Conference in Berlin - part 3
The 25th WONCA Europe Conference in Berlin will discuss hot topics about the future of our profession and evidence how best to care for our patients and societies not only with doctors from Europe but also with other professions cooperating with us in our practices, in our departments and in the community from all over the world.
Do not miss the 25th WONCA Europe Conference in Berlin - part 2
The 25th WONCA Europe Conference in Berlin will discuss hot topics about the future of our profession and evidence how best to care for our patients and societies not only with doctors from Europe but also with other professions cooperating with us in our practices, in our departments and in the community from all over the world.
Get your Early Bird registration for Asia Pacific Conference 2020
Next year’s WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference is taking place in Auckland, New Zealand from 23 – 26 April. The conference will see more than 1,200 GPs, family doctors and we encourage you to take advantage of the special early bird pricing on offer until 20 December.
WONCA 2022 Sydney announces first winners to attend
In 2022, WONCA celebrates the 50th anniversary of its inauguration and plans are well and truly underway to make the World Conference in Sydney, Australia, the best ever. Just this week, the RACGP announced the 2019 winners who will get their airfares, accommodation and conference registration paid for to attend the WONCA 2022 Conference in Sydney.
WONCA Asia Pacific 2020 – last call for abstracts
With equity at the heart of the conference, WONCA 2020 promises to deliver an inspiring and diverse programme of plenary sessions, panel discussions, skills workshops and debates which explore the theme of: Family Medicine - leading the way towards an advanced world of equity, quality and compassion.
Walk into the Rattlesnake Pit - WONCA Rural in Albuquerque
The WONCA World Rural health conference comes to Albuquerque in October. Please consider taking up our invitation to present your passion at the “Rattlesnake Pit” session on the Assembly Day of the World Rural Health Conference in Albuquerque, October 12th.
WONCA Asia Pacific conference 2020 - call for abstracts
You are invited to submit abstracts and proposals for oral and poster presentations and for workshops that are in keeping with the themes of this, the WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2020, which is coming to Auckland, New Zealand in April 2020.
Island Generalist Medicine Symposium
Manabu Saito, Director of the Rural Generalist Program in Japan, writes on a symposium held at WONCA Kyoto 2019 (in conjunction with the Japan Primary Care Association).
Vasco da Gama Movement in Bratislava
The Vasco da Gama Movement (VdGM) for young doctors in Europe was prominent at the recent WONCA Europe conference. Dr Katarzyna Nessler, new chair of the Movement reports:
Scholarships for WONCA Rural conference
Scholarships are now available to help offset the cost of attendance for the 16th WONCA World Rural Health Conference Oct. 12-15 in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA.
WONCA 2020 Abu Dhabi promotion in Europe and call for abstracts
WONCA 2020 Abu Dhabi recently launched its call for symposia and workshop abstracts and the committees have been hard at work promoting and developing content for the conference. In a bid to encourage greater attendance, WONCA 2020 Abu Dhabi joined the recently-concluded WONCA Europe
Improving care of patients with depression and anxiety at WONCA Kyoto
Shelly B Rodrigues, Deputy Executive Vice President, California Academy of Family Physicians and Chris Larrison, Principal, Healthcare Performance Consulting Inc, report on workshops at the recent WONCA Asia Pacific region conference in Kyoto on improving care of patients with depression and anxiety.
Report on Iberoamericana-CIMF congress May 2019
WONCA Iberoamericana CIMF, which brings together twenty countries including Spain and Portugal, held its sixth Congress of Family and Community Medicine of Ibero-America, in Tijuana, in May. More than 1,500 family doctors and health professionals from all areas of Ibero-America met in Tijuana, Mexico.
Successful WONCA APR 2019 in Kyoto, Japan
WONCA APR 2019 was held from May 15-18, 2019 at Kyoto International Conference Center, hosted by the Japan Primary Care Association. Total number of participants was 1643, from 46 countries, from all over the world.
WONCA Europe coming soon
All the latest information for those coming to WONCA Europe's conference in Bratislava in June. Practice visits, skills labs, walking workshop.
Reflections from Jessie Mbamba, Montegut Global Scholar in Seoul 2018
Jessie Mbamba, family medicine registrar from Malawi, received a Montegut global scholarship to attend the WONCA World conference, in Seoul, in 2018. The Montegut Global Scholars Program (MGSP) was established by the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation (ABFM-F) in 2010. The MGSP was established to foster international education, research and collaboration, in the specialty of family medicine.
WONCA Asia Pacific conference –last announcement
It’s less than two months until the WONCA Asia Pacific region (APR) conference, in Kyoto. We are now in the full swing of final preparations. More than 500 papers have been submitted and participants from more than 40 countries have already registered.
WONCA Europe Bratislava- March news
Dr Michaela Macháčová, president of the 24th WONCA Europe Conference 2019, writes about the conference coming to Bratislava, Slovakia from June 26 - 29, 2019.
World Rural Health conference in USA 2019 - call for abstracts
The USA’s National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences Center have partnered to bring the 16th WONCA World Rural Health conference to the United States for the first time in eight years. Save the date for October 12-15, 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Call for posters and presentation proposals is open until March 29.
Why you should join us at WONCA APR in Kyoto (latest news)
WONCA Asia Pacific region (APR) conference in Kyoto will provide the chance to observe Japanese medical clinics. An impressive list of speakers are assembled for our keynote and plenary sessions. Registration deadline for regular registration is March 11, 2019 (Japan Time).
WONCA EMR Beirut workshops announced.
Attend an excellent line up of workshops and enhance your experience at WONCA EMR 2019. These workshops have been carefully chosen to cover topics such as Universal Health Care, Primary Health Care, Health Policies, Refugee Health Care, Mental Health, Smoking Cessation and other hot topics.
WONCA EMR Beirut Scientific Program Announced
The sixth regional WONCA East Mediterranean region conference will be held from March 21- 23, 2019 in the Phoenicia Hotel, Beirut Lebanon. It will be hosted by the Lebanese Society of Family Medicine. The three day congress will highlight the latest updates relating to the practice of family medicine via a range of methods. See more about the program here.
Interview with Dr Peter Makara : Slovak Republic
Dr Peter Makara is Host Organizing Committee Chair for the WONCA Europe conference coming to the Slovak Republic in June 2019. He is President of the Slovak Society of General Practice. Here he is interviewed about the situation in his country.
WONCA EMR conference in Beirut in March
The sixth regional WONCA East Mediterranean region conference will be held from March 21- 23, 2019 in the Phoenicia Hotel, Beirut Lebanon. It will be hosted by the Lebanese Society of Family Medicine.
WONCA Europe Conference - call for abstracts extended
Call for abstracts has been extended but still only few days left to submit and be part of the WONCA Europe 2019 Conference scientific programme. Don't miss this opportunity! Abstract Submission Deadline: February 7, 2019
Call for submissions : WONCA World Rural Health conference
With this conference, we hope to bring together providers, educators and researchers in the pursuit of improving health care for all rural populations across the globe. Expand your knowledge of rural health best practices and engage with clinicians, educators, and health researchers from around the world in the Land of Enchantment.
Why you should join us at WONCA APR in Kyoto (continued)
Prof Nobu Ban writes: The venue of the WONCA Asia Pacific region conference in 2019 is Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto is most well known in Japanese history as being the former Imperial capital of Japan, for more than one thousand years, as well as a major part of the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area. Kyoto attracts many people due to its natural beauty and cultural heritage.
WONCA Europe 2019- Dr Jana Bendová answers questions
Dr Jana Bendová, member of the Scientific Committee for the coming WONCA Europe conference in Bratislava, answers questions about general practice in the Slovak Republic. She is a GP and chief expert for general medicine at the Ministry of Health.
WONCA Europe Conference- latest news about Bratislava
We are delighted to invite you to the 24th WONCA Europe Conference that will be held in Bratislava, Slovakia on June 26 - 29, 2019. Abstract Submission Deadline: January 10, 2019. early bird registration ends December 31, 2018.
Why you should join us at WONCA APR in Kyoto, Japan, in 2019
Prof Nobutaro Ban provides more information about the WONCA Asia Pacific region conference coming to Kyoto in May 2019. This includes topics for presentations and discussion. Registration is open as are calls for abstracts for workshops presentations etc.
WONCA Africa comes to Uganda in June 2019
Read the 2019 WONCA Africa region conference welcome message from new WONCA Africa president Shabir Moosa and find out all conference details. Early Bird registration closes December 31 as does abstract submission.
WONCA Kyoto 2019 - important dates
This is the second announcement in WONCA News about the WONCA Asia Pacific region conference coming in 2019 to Kyoto, Japan. The conference will be held from May 15-18, 2019 and this item lists important dates for registration and abstracts.
WONCA South Asia, in Lahore, in 2019
The WONCA South Asia region conference will be held from November 22-24, 2019, in Lahore, Karachi, Pakistan. The theme is "Primary Care- complete health care". The conference is hosted by the Pakistan Society of Family Physicians.
WONCA in Kyoto, Japan, in 2019
This is the first announcement in WONCA News about the WONCA Asia Pacific region conference coming in 2019 to Kyoto, Japan. The conference will be held from May 15-18, 2019
Distinguished Research Making Family Medicine Shine Award deadline 29 June
The submission deadline of the 1st Distinguished Research Making Family Medicine Shine Award has been extended.
The aim of this award is to recognize the distinguished research conducted by WONCA colleagues which has been published in high-impact journals in the field of medicine or health sciences and to honor and award them at WONCA 2018 Seoul.
Arrangements for meetings in Seoul
WONCA CEO Garth Manning outlines arrangements for all WONCA Meetings associated with (mostly preceding) the coming World conference in Seoul,South Korea. These include meetings of Working Parties and Special Interest Groups, Young Doctors and the WOCNA World Council. Venues are confirmed and vary so please take a close look.
WONCA Seoul abstracts close on May 31st
Young Sik Kim writes: I am glad to announce that many colleagues have submitted their ideas, and we now have received over 1,200 abstracts. With only one week remaining until the submission deadline, I encourage you to submit your abstracts today and share your recent achievements. Don’t be late and miss out!
From the CEO's desk: Arrangements for Seoul 2018
This month, the CEO reminds everyone of the arrangements and timetable for Seoul, and encourages everyone to make their travel plans for an excellent event in a fascinating city. There are multiple events before a WONCA World conference - WONCA Executive, WONCA Regional Councils, WONCA World Council, WONCA Working Party meetings, Special Interest Groups meetings, Young Doctors' preconference. The culmination is the WONCA World conference.
From the CEO’s desk: all coming conferences
This month I want to return to the theme of WONCA conferences and events. These are important landmarks in our calendar, as they afford a great opportunity to meet up with old friends, to make some new friends, and to share areas of interest with colleagues from all around the world.
2018 Krakow conference speakers
WONCA Europe comes to the beautiful city of Krakow in May 2018. Find our more about the seven keynote speeches and note the early bird registration ends February 28.
Report on 5th VdGM forum in Porto.
On the 26-27th January, 2018, the 5th Vasco da Gama Movement (VdGM) Forum took place in the beautiful city of Porto, Portugal. “Stronger Together: charting the course to navigate the future” was this forum’s topic. The program and all activities related to the forum, were designed to promote teamwork and also to be a showcase for new, alternative ways to structure and to organize a conference.
Catching up with the Dragon!
What’s new about the 23rd WONCA Europe Conference coming to Krakow in May? We have new Key Note Speakers of the Conference: Dr Anna Stavdal - President of WONCA Europe, Dr Przemysław Guła, Prof Sara Willems. Early bird registration ends 28 February.
WONCA 2018 Rural conference abstracts close soon
We invite you to 15th WONCA World Rural Health Conference at New Delhi from 26-29 April 2018. Registration and Abstract submission is open for all. Last Date for Abstract Submission is 31st December.
WONCA Europe Kraków - we hear from Adam Windak
Early bird registration closes December 31, 2017 and abstracts are open only until December 17, for WONCA Europe Kraków. Prof Adam Windak, Conference Scientific Committee chair, speaks to the WONCA editor about this conference and comparisons to the previous excellent one he help organise in Warsaw in 2011.
World conference 2018 Seoul - welcome message
WONCA's next world conference comes to Seoul, Korea from October 17 - 21, 2018. The theme of the conference is “Primary Care in the Future: Professional Excellence," and will cover diverse disciplines of family medicine from the present to the future. For the vision of future family medicine, we plan to offer a dynamic and stimulating array of scientific and practical hands-on programs as well as special events. Find out more.
Register for the Besrour Forum on November 7th, 2017
We welcome WONCA members from all regions of the world to join us for the 6th annual Besrour Forum on Tue Nov 7th, 2017 in Montreal, Canada! This year’s theme is Leading the way to Universal Health Coverage through Family Medicine: Skills for Success.
WONCA SAR Nepal conference deadlines approach
Greetings from the Himalayan Kingdom. After our devastating earthquake we are trying our best to rebuild ourselves. We would like to thank our well wishers and assure them that in spite of the recent past we now hosting a WONCA South Asia region conference in Kathmandu, on November 25 and 26, 2017.
A practice visit in Prague by the WONCA Editor
Just before the opening ceremony of the WONCA Europe conference in Prague, the WONCA editor, Dr Karen Flegg, joined a group of four colleagues from Italy and one from the UK on a practice visit.
WONCA Europe Prague 2017 in photos
This past week WONCA Europe held its annual conference in Prague. A photographic report is attached including the three minute conference video
WONCA Europe Prague conference coming soon
We are delighted to invite you to the 22nd WONCA Europe Conference that will be held in Prague, Czech Republic from June 28 to July 1, 2017. Regular registration deadline; practice visits; programme details and more.
#ruralwonca - check out our gallery and post-event wrap
If you missed this amazing event, now is your opportunity to see our highlights reel! Thanks to everyone who attended the 14th World Rural Health Conference. It's hard to pick a highlight - there's so many to choose from! So here's some stand out events from the four days of conferencing.
WONCA Rural 2018 announced
Its a great pleasure to announce the 15th WONCA World Rural Health Conference, South Asia Rural health conference (WRHC 2018) to be held in New Delhi from 26 - 29th April 2018. Early bird registration discounts are now open.
WONCA Africa Montegut Scholar reports on Rio
In 2016 the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation (ABFM-F) awarded Dr Kenneth Yakubu the 2016 Montegut Scholarship for Africa. This enabled Kenneth to attend the WONCA World conference in Rio. Kenneth writes “Through the Montegut Scholarship award for Africa, I was offered the opportunity to be part of an enriching experience, one I will remember for a very long while. Indeed, I feel blessed. Thank you, ABFM-F”. Kenneth has written an excellent report.
WP on Education- Cairns and Prague activities
Val Wass, chair of the WONCA Working Party on Education summarises the group's planned activities at the next two WONCA conferences - the world rural conference in Cairns in late April, and WONCA Europe in Prague in late June.
WONCA Prague 2017: the latest news
WONCA Europe comes to Prague from June 28 - July 1, 2017. The latest news from the Scientific Committee chair and about the exciting WONCA Europe open meeting chaired by Job Metsemakers with Han Kluge from WHO.
Why you can’t miss the 14th World Rural Health Conference
Here’s four big reasons why you should attend.
1) Networking with more than 600 delegates
2) Professional development
3) Keep up-to-date with the latest trends in international rural health
4) Hear the conference keynote speakers: including WONCA leaders Amanda Howe and Bruce Chater
Montegut Scholarships -Africa and Iberoamericana regions
The time has come to seek applications from doctors from these two regions for Montegut scholarships, allowing one doctor from each region to attend regional conferences in August. This year there will be two awards for the Africa region and one for the Iberoamericana region.
WONCA Rural Cairns early bird ending soon
WONCA Rural comes to Cairns at the end of April - please help support bursaries and don't forget, early bird registration ends soon. More on the program, and the post conference study tour to New Zealand.
WONCA EMR congress 2017 - the latest
The WONCA EMR congress comes to Abu Dhabi from 2-4 March 2017. Standard registration closes soon and speakers have now been announced to include a number of current and past WONCA leaders.
WONCA EMR conference in Abu Dhabi - March 2-4
As the President of WONCA EMR Organization, it gives me great pleasure and honor to invite you to the 4th WONCA East Mediterranean Region Family Medicine Congress which will be held from 2-4 March 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
WONCA World of Rural health - Cairns conference latest
The latest news from the WONCA World of rural health conference coming to Cairns 29 April- 2 May. Information on registration, accomodation, tours and the latest keynote speakers - Jim Campbell, Amanda Howe, Mayara Floss.
WONCA Europe Prague 2017 - Abstracts deadline closing
WONCA Europe's conference will be held in Prague from June 28 to July 1, 2017. Due to a high level of interest from participants, we are pleased to announce that the abstract submission deadline has been extended to January 15, 2017.
WONCA Europe Prague 2017
We are delighted to invite you to the 22nd WONCA Europe Conference that will be held in Prague, Czech Republic from June 28 to July 1, 2017. Abstract submission and registration is open.
WONCA Rural comes to Cairns Australia, in April 2017
The 14th WONCA World Rural Health Conference will be held at the Cairns Convention Centre, Australia, from 29 April to 2 May 2017. The conference will be based around themes most relevant to all rural and remote health practitioners. These include social and environmental determinants of health; leadership, education and workforce; social accountability and social capital, and rural clinical practices: people and services.
Donate or register for bursaries to attend WONCA Rural Conference
“Young Doctors”, doctors from developing countries, and medical students, are invited to apply for bursaries to support them to attend the WONCA Rural Health Conference which will be held in Cairns, Australia from 29 April -2 May 2017.
Others are invited to support bursaries for colleagues or medical students.
Rio - Meetings, Social events, Program
This page summarises important meetings and details particularly for Council delegates and members of WONCA Working Parties or Special Interest Groups. Also includes links to the preliminary program and social event summary.
EMR conference coming in March 2017.
As the President of WONCA East Mediterranean Region, it gives me great pleasure and honor to invite you to Fourth WONCA East Mediterranean Region Family Medicine Congress which will be held during 2-4 March 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
WONCA Europe 2017 call for abstracts
The Czech Society of General Practice will be the host organization for the 22nd WONCA Europe Conference, which will be held in Prague from 28th June to 1st July 2017, and they have informed us that abstract submission is now open.
Cultural exhibitions & contests for Rio close August 31
As part of the cultural calendar for WONCA World 2016 in Rio, our colleagues in the Brazilian Society of Family and Community Medicine have launched a call for two exhibitions and three contests of cultural material. The two exhibitions call for video and photograph submissions, whilst the three contests are seeking short story, music and poetry submissions. Deadline August 31.
WONCA Europe 2016 report - keynotes online
Did you realise that we all just had a fantastic conference in Copenhagen? That is what we hear.
We hope that you all had enjoyable stays in Denmark and Copenhagen – and hopefully many of you got the opportunity to travel to some of the other Nordic countries as well.
We want to thank you for the brilliant contributions you all made. Whether it was scientific, clinical or as an interested clinician, everyone made the WONCA Europe Conference 2016 a memorable conference.
Legacy of WONCA Europe 2016 conference
The legacy of the WONCA Europe 2016 conference is a result of collaboration between the Host Organizing Committee, WONCA Europe Council and WONCA Europe Executive board. European Family Doctors call for Joint Action with Heads and Hearts!
WONCA Europe Copenhagen conference newsletter No. 18
In Copenhagen in June we are delighted to present: Katherine Rouleau, associate professor with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto – giving a keynote on Inequality in health and specific patient groups
WONCA Europe Copenhagen program
We are delighted to present the first edition of the ”programme at a glance” for WONCA Europe 2016.
We received a record-large number of session proposals and abstracts. Based on external reviews and a thorough assessment by the energetic Scientific Committee, we are proud of the result.
Rio 2016 speakers
Who are the speakers for WONCA Rio? Many concepts and topics related to the development of family medicine will be discussed, such as quaternary prevention, "overdiagnosis", electronic health records, management of common health problems, quality assessment, the pre-test probability, system management of health and organization, etc
WONCA Europe 2016 - "patient voice" to speak
Ulrika Sandén is a social worker pursuing doctoral research of cancer processes at the Ingvar Kamprad Design Centre, Lund University, Sweden - meet her in Copenhagen!
Remember: final deadline for very late abstracts is 31 March
Rio 2016 abstracts summary
Our next WONCA World conference is coming to Rio in November. Discount registration closes on April 30. The Host Organising committee has released details of abstracts received.
Skills lab at WONCA Europe 2016
Great news: The participants of WONCA Copenhagen will be able to train skills that are important to the daily work of a GP.
We have created a “Skills lab” in an open area in the conference center.
WONCA Europe 2016 February news
June and WONCA Europe in Copenhagen is getting closer :-)
In Copenhagen in June we are delighted to present: Professor Martin Roland, University of Cambridge – giving a keynote on The future of primary care “What is primary care going to look like in the future?”
2016 – WONCA conferences
2016 sees a another WONCA world conference, this time coming to Rio, in November. There are also several regional events and events for young doctors so why not join us at a WONCA conference this year?
Visit us in Copenhagen 15 - 18 June 2016
Many GPs are already looking very much forward to the WONCA Europe Conference in June 2016 in Copenhagen. We have already received a promisingly high number of abstract submissions and we hope you are considering submitting your abstract to the congress
WONCA EMR Submit your abstract
The scientific committee of 3rd WONCA East Mediterranean Region Family Medicine Congress 2016 invites presenters worldwide to submit abstracts to be presented as an oral or poster presentation
2015 WONCA conference photos
2015 has been a big year for WONCA conferences - with more still to come. A collection of links leading to photos of WONCA conferences held so far in 2015.
Visit us in Copenhagen 15 - 18 June 2016
"Family Doctors with heads and hearts". This is the thought-provoking theme of our 2016 WONCA Europe Conference being held in Copenhagen next June. How do we combine our scientific knowledge with the tender, loving care that is a distinguishing feature of our work as family doctors
WONCA South Asia to meet in Colombo 2016
Prof Antoinette Perera, President of the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka is interviewed by the WONCA Editor about her hopes for the conference. Antoinette is also a WONCA Featured doctor this month.
Montegut scholar report for WONCA/EMR 2015 conference
Nagwa Nashat Hegazy was a Montegut Scholar attending the recent WONCA East Mediterranean region congress was held from 30 April to 2 May 2015 in Dubai city in the UAE. This edited report written by Nagwa is reproduced with the permission of the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation (ABFM-F) who provide the scholarship.
WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice report on Dubrovnik
The WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice met over two days before the beginning of the WONCA World Rural Health Conference in Dubrovnik in April 2015. People from all over the world, movers and shakers in rural health education, research and in health service provision, many jobbing doctors, trainees and students took part in two meetings
Welcome to Rural Health in Dubrovnik
The WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice is holding the WONCA World Rural Health conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia this week. Welcome messages were given by the WONCA President and also WONCA Europe Vice President, Anna Stavdal.
Speakers for WONCA Europe in Istanbul in October
At our twentieth conference, WONCA Europe invites you to look into the future from the perspective of the past. - find out more about the speakers already lined up. At our twentieth conference, WONCA Europe invites you to look into the future from the perspective of the past.
Come to Istanbul to share what you think about family physicians, patients, diseases, health systems and WONCA with your colleagues from the speaker's corner.
WONCA Africa welcomes you to Ghana, May 2015
Dr Henry Lawson, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the Wonca Africa Conference in Accra, Ghana 6-9 May 2015 and future Wonca Africa President, urges you to join us in Ghana.
EGPRN conference May 7-10, 2015
EGPRN welcomes posters, oral presentations and one-slide/five minutes’ presentations on the theme of the meeting, or on any other relevant research topic. The theme of this meeting will be: “Research into new Methods and Techniques in Primary Care”.
Rural round-up: Dubrovnik - a temptation now and in history
Tanja Pekez- Pavlisko is this month's author of rural round-up. Tanja is president of the Organising Committee of the coming WONCA World Rural Health conference being held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in April. Here she reflects on the rich history of Dubrovnik and medicine.
Kuching sparks interest in men's health
WONCA would like to establish a Special Interest Group on Men's Health. Here, Alan White, Professor of Men's Health, Leeds Beckett University writes on resources and a workshop held in Kuching
2015 conference notices
Have you ever thought of attending a WONCA conference? Maybe you have been to many? Regardless, 2015 brings a variety of events to choose from, and spread all around the world - Croatia, Taiwan, Uruguay, Turkey, UAE, Bangladesh, Ghana.
Montegut Scholarships to 2015 WONCA conferences
The Montegut Global Scholars Program was established by the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation in 2010. The program will provide a scholarship for one family physician from each of the seven WONCA regions to aid their attendance at their respective regional WONCA meetings in 2015.
Family Medicine Research Award - Call for Applications
This Research Award is made possible by a generous donation from the Chinese Taipei Association of Family Medicine, to support three junior and emerging researchers to travel to present their paper at the 2015 WONCA Asia Pacific Region Conference
Gramado abstracts online
Did you miss the WONCA Rural Health conference in Gramado - abstracts are now available online. English and Portuguese
WONCA Lisbon in videos
Did you miss WONCA Lisbon or want to revist your favourite moments? Produced courtesy of the Host organisation, the Portuguese Association of General Practice (APMGF) and featuring the opening and closing sessions, TV footage from each day and the much requested keynote of Rich Roberts.
WONCA Europe coming to Lisbon next month
WONCA Europe holds its conference in Lisbon from July 2-5. FInd out about HOC president João Sequeira Carlos' views and read the latest interviews with guest speakers.
Global Health and Young Family Doctors - VdGM Forum 2014
Earlier this year, the first Vasco da Gama Movement Forum, gave trainee and new Family Doctors an opportunity to meet and participate in workshops, present posters, hear a variety of speakers and generally exchange views and experiences on being a Family Doctor. One such session was the World Café workshop on the subject of 'Global Health'.
Reports from WONCA Europe bursary winners
At the recent WONCA world conference in Prague, WONCA Europe awarded a number of bursaries to assist with attendance. Read how these bursaries help our colleagues reach their aspirations.
Prague keynote presentations
Did you enjoy listening to Michael Kidd, Amanda Howe, Igor Svab or Karen Kinder in Prague? They have made their presentations available.
WONCA Prague video and photos
Happy memories of last week's WONCA world conference in Prague are captured on video and on the Facebook page of the Prague conference.
See you in Prague video
The latest YouTube video from the Prague conference team is now available. Dont forget Early Bird registration ends May 24.
Latest WONCA Prague eNews
The latest eNews for WONCA 2013 Prague World conference: includes latest scientific program information, facts about Prague, fun run scheduled for Thursday June 27
Unveiling the speakers for WONCA Prague
Find out more about the key note speakers for the WONCA world conference to be held in Prague, in June 2013? Dr Margaret Chan join an impressive list of speakers. Who will speak on "Do we dare to be different?" Submit your own story for the plenary on "Doctors' health and wellbeing".
Prague 2013 enews
WONCA world conference 2013 to be held in Prague has generous registration fee concessions for WONCA direct members until February 2013. Read the latest conference newsletter.
Featured Family Doctors
HOC Chair Prague: Bohumil Seifert
With the WONCA World conference being held in Prague later in June 2013, this month we feature the Host Organising Committee Chair, A/Prof Bohumil Seifert MD PhD
An interview with Professor Job FM Metsemakers - Secretary of WONCA Europe
Professor Job FM Metsemakers generously agreed to be interviewed by the WONCA editor, in Vienna, in July 2012. He has been secretary of WONCA Europe for five years. This interview ended with the editor asking why WONCA colleagues might be interested in Job’s story. Job’s reply was: “After all, I am just an ordinary guy….”. But most WONCA colleagues are not ordinary, so we leave it to the reader to decide.
In my view
In my view... Anna Stavdal
Over the past months I have visited many colleagues and their practices in many WONCA regions. The vast diversity within our global professional community is striking - culturally, economically and climatewise. The more I learn, the clearer it gets: what we share goes far beyond any potential differences.
Desde mi punto de vista : Anna Stavdal
En los últimos meses, he visitado muchos colegas, en sus centros de salud y hospitales en muchas regiones de WONCA. La gran diversidad – cultural, económica y climática – dentro de nuestra comunidad profesional global es muy llamativa.
In my view... Ruth Wilson, Canada
Family doctors quite rightly claim a central key position in the provision of primary care. We are the only well-trained generalist physicians who fulfill this role... We are challenged to show our worth in health care settings where it is assumed that other providers such as community health workers are better placed to provide personal first contact care.
Desde mi punto de vista : Ruth Wilson
Los médicos de familia, de forma muy acertada, reclaman ocupar una posición central a la hora de proveer la Atención Primaria con los recursos necesarios, puesto que somos los únicos médicos con una formación suficiente para ocupar esta posición.
Desde mi punto de vista : Laurence Dorman escribe
Desde mi punto de vista, la buena comunicación entre profesionales médicos que promueven la cortesía profesional y el respeto mutuo, puede llegar a tener un impacto significativo en las vidas de los pacientes, mediante una aproximación sencilla y de bajo coste.
In my view… Laurence Dorman writes
Frequent examples throughout medical history have shown that simple, low tech interventions can have significant impact on population health. Vaccination programmes, clean water and provision of high-quality primary care are such examples. In my view, good communication between medical professionals which promotes professional courtesy and mutual respect can have a similar significant impact on patients’ lives, with a simple approach and low cost.
Desde mi punto de vista… Jan de Maeseneer
Seguramente, el de Jan de Maesseneer es un nombre familiar para muchos y muchas de vosotros y vosotras. ¡Él ha sido, desde hace años, uno de los grandes defensores de la Medicina de Familia y continúa estando al pie del cañón a pesar de su supuesta “jubilación”! Estoy muy agradecido de invitar a Jan a contribuir con su punto de vista acerca de las cuestiones más relevante dentro de la Atención Primaria y la Medicina de Familia en el WONCA News de este mes
In my view… Family Medicine, PHC and UHC
Jan de Maeseneer, will be a familiar name to many of you. He has been a staunch advocate for family medicine for many years and continues his interest despite his so-called ‘retirement’! I am pleased to invite Jan to contribute his view about issues of note within primary care and family medicine to this month’s WONCA News
Desde mi punto de vista ... Septiembre 2019
A principios de este año, durante la Asamblea de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, WONCA llegó al acuerdo de trabajar para conseguir difundir la importancia del trabajo de los equipos de Atención Primaria a la hora de conseguir la cobertura universal de salud.
In my view… September 2019
Donald Li, WONCA President writes: Earlier this year, during the World Health Assembly, WONCA agreed to lead a piece of work on the importance of the Primary Care Team to achieve Universal Health Coverage. As family doctors we recognize the importance of working with qualified professional colleagues who provide essential interface and inputs to the delivery of a comprehensive primary care system.
Desde mi punto de vista ... Prof Chris van Weel
El pasado 27 de octubre de 2018, el congreso de Astaná de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (WHO) aprovó una declaración para fortalecer la Atención Primaria. En ella se admite la importancia de la asistencia en Atención Primaria, como una de las funciones centrales de los sistemas sanitarios para conseguir la cobertura universal de salud.
In My View ... Prof Chris van Weel
On October 27, 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) Conference in Astana, approved a declaration to strengthen primary health care. It acknowledges the importance of primary health care, as a core function in health systems, to attain universal health coverage. This declaration is a welcome support for health reforms around the world particularly now it has been endorsed by the World Health Assembly.
Desde mi punto de vista... junio 2019
Este mes, pregunté a la Profesora Val Wass, como docente de renombre a nivel mundial y como miembro de la WONCA y Tesorera Honoraria, para darle puntos de vista acerca de cómo la educación de los estudiantes de medicina necesita adaptarse al cambiante entorno sanitario.
In my View: Prof Val Wass
Professor Val Wass, globally renowned medical educator, Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Education, and also WONCA Member At Large and Honorary Treasurer, to give her views on how the education of medical students needs to adapt to the changing health environment.
Desde mi punto de vista... mayo 2019
Existe una opinión que defiende que podemos mantener la mayor parte de nuestras reuniones de trabajo utilizando APPS como por ejemplo Skype, Go-To-Meeting o ZOOM. Es muy útil, sin duda, tener la posibilidad de vernos con otros colegas y observar sus expresiones durante un debate. Hay diversos argumentos de peso que defienden que este tipo de reuniones son coste-efectivas en términos de tiempo,
In my View... May 2019
我思我想 …. 2019年5月
WONCA主席 李国栋医生
不少人认为,我们可使用各式各样的应用程序,例如skype、go-to-meeting以及zoon等,来进行大部份的工作会议。视讯会议让我们在进行讨论时作实时的观察与交流,有助沟通。 亦有意见认为,网络会议省时便利,各人可随意加入讨论,减少对工作日程的影响。 还有一种观点指出,减少出行可降低航空、 火车和汽车旅程的碳足迹 ,无疑是为环保作了一件功益好事。 尽管如此,我仍相信没什么较「面对面」的沟通来得更直接、更有效。
In my view... May 2019
There is a view that says we can hold most of our business meetings using apps such as skype and go-to-meeting and zoom. It is useful to be able to see colleagues and to observe their expressions when in discussion. There is a good argument that such meetings are time-efficient, in that people can participate from wherever they are working, with minimal disruption to their working day.
Desde mi punto de vista: reparación ante el Desastre y Reducción del Riesgo
El rol crucial de la Medicina de Familia ante la reducción del riesgo de desastres y ante la falta de preparación está siendo reconocido de forma cada vez mayor tanto a nivel nacional como a nivel global. La formación para poder mitigar los efectos devastadores de una catástrofe una vez esta ha ocurrido, puede ser limitada y, en algunos países, incluso llegar a ser inexistente.
In my view: Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction
WONCA President, Donald Li, writes on a topic, which he is passionate about. "We need to build our understanding of the risks and develop appropriate training for family doctors. By doing so, we can ensure that we contribute in the most effective ways possible, alongside the growing body of professionals who plan for and respond to the worst of situations to befall a community."
A mon sens : Déclaration concernant la santé planétaire
Le professeur Sir Andy Haines s’exprime sur la « Déclaration encourageant les médecins de famille du monde à agir sur la santé planétaire » -résultat du groupe de travail de WONCA sur l’environnement et du groupe de travail de l’alliance de cliniciens pour la santé planétaire
Desde mi punto de vista: Declaración acerca de la Salud Planetaria
El Profesor Sir Andy Haines escribe acerca de la “Declaración llamando a los médicos de familia para actuar sobre la salud planetaria” – un resultado del Grupo de Trabajo de la WONCA en Medio Ambiente y los Médicos en Salud de la Alianza Planetaria para el Grupo de Trabajo en Salud Planetaria.
In my View : Declaration on Planetary Health
Prof Sir Andy Haines writes about the "Declaration calling for the family doctors of the world to act on planetary health" - a result of the WONCA Working Party on the Environment and the Planetary Health Alliance Clinicians for Planetary Health Working Grou
Des de mi punto de vista – Donald Li, Presidente de WONCA
Durante mi inauguración como Presidente prometí, entre otras cosas, continuar defendiendo la Medicina de Familia como un elemento esencial para conseguir la Cobertura Universal de Salud y un sistema sanitario coste-efectivo fuerte. La Declaración de Astana dejó muy claro que todavía queda mucho trabajo por hacer.
In my view ... Donald Li
At my inauguration as President I promised, among other things, to continue to advocate for family medicine as essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage and strong cost-effective health systems. The Astana Declaration made it clear that there is still much to be done for professionally qualified primary care teams to be recognised and acknowledged as the backbone of the primary care delivery system in every country.
Fragmentos de política – Haciendo que la acción global sea efectiva
Así que estamos esperando con mucha ilusión, tanto nuestro encuentro en Seúl como el de Astana. Nosotros también debemos hacer nuestra propia Declaración WONCA en Seúl, y llevar a cabo los compromisos que alcancemos en nuestro próximo bienio, y con la vista puesta en Astana.
Policy Bite : Making global action effective
So we look forward, both to Seoul and to Astana. We shall make our own WONCA Declaration at Seoul, and carry this forward into the next biennium, and onwards to Astana. We hope all members will feel part of this effort, and share their views and actions to our common goal – “to improve the quality of life of the peoples of the world … by fostering high standards of care in general practice/family medicine”.
Fragmentos de política – Septiembre 2018
Trabajando a escala - como médicos y médicas de familia necesitamos pensar tanto a nivel pequeño como a nivel más grande – y no siempre debemos sentir que debemos avanzar nosotros solos. Algunos de los modelos en asistencia moderna ofrecen un apoyo efectivo y una mayor capacitación, mientras mantenemos como prioridad la cara humana de la Medicina de Familia.
Policy bite: Making a global declaration
I hope all WONCA members reading this will know that in July there was a very short period when the final draft of the “Astana Declaration on Primary Health Care: From Alma-Ata towards Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals” allowed people to comment on this version. in this policy bite the president and Vivi Martinez-Bianchi consider making a global declaration – how to influence and advocate?
Fragmentos de política: Organizaciones miembro – construyendo y valorando su papel
Estos es lo que es necesario hacer en todos los servicios sanitarios – crear una fuerte voz profesional que sea creíble para los médicos de familia y que sea escuchada por parte de los gobiernos, políticos y otros profesionales sanitarios – y esto es valorado y apoyado por los impactos que tenemos en nuestros pacientes, salud y vidas.
Fragmentos de política – mayo 2018
Cuando asistí al Congreso Iberoamericano de la WONCA en Colombia en marzo, también presencié una idea muy novedosa: Diferentes países de la región están colaborando en programas de trabajo y explicando su actividad en el Congreso regional.
Policy bite: Ways of working together – an example from Iberoamerica
When I attended the WONCA Iberoamerica region conference in Colombia in March, I also saw a new idea – different countries in the region all working together on programmes of work, and reporting their work in to the regional conference. This was used to inform delegates, but also to help the leaders in the Executive and the national country leaders in making their policies – useful for discussing issues with stakeholders.
Fragmentos de política – la Cobertura Sanitaria Universal
En este momento, el gran debate en la Organización Mundial de la Salud gira entorno a la Cobertura Sanitaria Universal – aunque debemos añadir qué es lo que esperamos que esto signifique a nivel práctico. Entre las dimensiones de la universalidad debemos considerar:
Fragmentos de política : Apoyo efectivo - personal, profesional y político
Una de las cuestiones que nuestros miembros nos dicen acerca de lo que más valoran de WONCA es su viabilidad a la hora de defender nuestros intereses a nivel de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Invertimos tiempo, energías y dinero intentando que tu voz pueda ser escuchada en diferentes actividades la Organización Mundial de la Salud.
Policy Bite: Effective advocacy – personal, professional, and political
Amanda Howe (President) and Viviana Martinez-Bianchi (WONCA WHO Liaison) write: One of the things that our members tell us they value about WONCA is its ability to advocate at the World Health Organization level. We spend time, energy, and money trying to get your voice heard in the different WHO activities.
Policy Bite: Toolkit for Social Accountability in Medical Schools
Amanda Howe writes about The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) and the Training for Health Equity Network (‘THEnet’) recently published ‘Students’ Toolkit for Social Accountability in Medical Schools’. the ‘Students’ Toolkit for Social Accountability in Medical Schools’. Amanda writes "As family doctors, we have an important role to play in supporting the move towards delivering training for health professionals that improves social accountability."
Fragmentos de política: Cuarto Foro Mundial de Recursos Humanos para la Salud
En este último foro de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, que tuvo lugar en la capital de Irlanda, Dublín, entre los pasados días 13 y 17 de noviembre, asistieron como representantes de WONCA hasta tres miembros del Ejecutivo Mundial (Anna Stavdal, Job Metsemakers y Ana Nunes Barata, en representación de nuestro Movimiento de Jóvenes Médicos de Familia), así como un importante número de representantes de nuestro Grupo de Trabajo en Medicina Rural, incluyendo John Wynn Jones, Bruce Chater, Jim Rourke.
Policy Bite: Fourth Global Forum on Human Resources for Health
This WHO forum, held from November 13-17, 2017, in Dublin Ireland, was attended on behalf of WONCA by three members of our World Executive (Anna Stavdal, Job Metsemakers, and Ana Nunes Barata for our Young Doctors’ Movement), and a number of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice leaders.
Policy Bite: Rural priorities and progress – Australia
WONCA has had a Working Party on Rural Practice for many years. Their vision is “health for all rural people around the world”, and, as for WONCA as a whole, one of the key aims of their advocacy is to ensure governments recognise the importance of family medicine and its rural and remote workforce. It is therefore a source of celebration that Prof Paul Worley, a member of the WONCA Rural Working Party, has been appointed as the first Rural Health Commissioner of Australia
Prioridades rurales y progresos – una lección del desarrollo en Australia
Desde hace muchos años, WONCA tiene un Grupo de Trabajo en Medicina Rural, y este es muy activo – cada año organiza un Congreso mundial, mantiene intensas comunicaciones y presencia en las redes sociales, también tiene una relación muy especial con los Movimientos de Jóvenes Médicos de Familia (Rural Seeds), y ofrece recursos como los recogidos en la Guía Educacional de Medicina Rural. Su lema es el de “salud para la población de los medios rurales en todo el mundo”. Es por esa razón que debemos celebrar el hecho de que el Profesor Paul Worley, miembro del Grupo de Trabajo en Medicina Rural, ha sido elegido como el Primer Comisario de Salud Rural de Australia.
Policy Bite: shared principles of primary care
Ruth Wilson (Canada) and Amanda Howe (UK) write: the terms "primary care" and "primary health care" are often used loosely, and there is a need to define and characterise good primary care. Here are eight principles of primary care, recently endorsed by many primary care and family medicine organizations in North America, for consideration.
Policy Bite: Getting the evidence for the impact of family medicine
A different kind of evidence is needed to evaluate the impact of new inputs through primary health care and – in our specific area of interest – family doctors. Prof Felicity Goodyear-Smith (Chair WONCA Working Party on Research) and Prof Amanda Howe (WONCA President) write this month's policy bite.
Fragmentos de politica: Big data – ¿podemos compartirnos a nosotros mismos?
Uno de los temas recurrentes ante el que se enfrentan los responsables políticos y de los gobiernos es la solicitud constante de evidencias entre la formación de más médicos de familia y el valor añadido para el sistema y sus costes económico-efectivos, es decir, que los políticos demuestren que la inversión en formación está justificada.
Policy Bite: Big data – can we share our own?
Dr Neil Arya and colleagues in Canada have created a new webpage on family medicine training and practice worldwide. They have done this as a ‘Wiki’ where we can all upload relevant data:
Fragmentos de política: Manifiesto nórdico sobre el sobrediagnóstico
En 2016, el Colegio Noruego de Práctica Generalista publicó un manifiesto acerca del sobrediagnóstico. Más tarde, en el mismo año, la Federación Nórdica de Práctica Generalista (Nordic Federation of General Practice, NFGP) en colaboración con los médicos de familia de Dinamarca, Finlandia, Islandia, Noruega y Suecia se añadieron a los puntos que defendía el manifiesto.
Fragmentos de política: Invitamos a un miembro del Robert Graham Centre de Estados Unidos
El invitado de este mes del Fragmentos de política viene del Robert Graham Centre, en los EE.UU. Su objetivo principal es el de mejorar la asistencia sanitaria individual y de la población a través de la recopilación de experiencias y evidencias clínicas que llevan las perspectivas de la medicina de familia y de la atención primaria a debates políticos sanitarios desde un contexto local hacia el nivel internacional.
Policy Bite: Maximising the role of primary care workforce
Prof Amanda Howe and Dr Jamie Murdoch, University of East Anglia write: the challenge for primary care services to negotiate tensions between meeting patients’ needs effectively and managing demand for care is a global problem. Rising life expectancy and improved options to help diagnosis and treatment mean that doctors both in community and hospital settings have to manage increasingly complex patients with multi-morbidities.
Policy Bite from the UK: the needs of patients with multimorbidity
This month’s Policy Bite is another ‘external invite’, this time by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in the United Kingdom. The document deals with multimorbidity and our role as family doctors in caring for patients with multimorbidity. It is a 20 page monograph written by Maureen Baker and Holly Jeffers and is endorsed by the RCGP Council.
Policy bite from Canada : Advocating for Family Medicine internationally.
This month’s Policy Bite is our first ‘external invite’ and has been written by Professor Katherine Rouleau of the Besrour Centre, which is linked with our WONCA Member Organization - the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Prof Rouleau’s submission shows how a member organization can try to impact on government through participating in an official consultation.
Fragmentos de política - Ideas acerca de los impactos
Sugiero que podríamos hacer un mejor uso con la gran cantidad de recurso de nuestros miembros. Podríamos tener una mayor cantidad de “grandes conversaciones” focalizadas en algunos de los temas clave para nuestra disciplina.
Policy Bite: Ideas into impacts
I am going to suggest we could do one thing better with the rich resources of our members. We could have more focused ‘big conversations’ on some of the key topics for our discipline. We have many policy experts in our community, and many of the MOs are writing papers and strategies regularly for use in their own country.
Policy Bite: What is, or is not, Family Medicine?
Definitions, models and limits... Does this matter? I think it does, at least at the level of the ‘system’. While individual circumstances and opportunities may vary, a health care system that does not implement the full scope of family medicine is likely to be less cost-effective.
Fragmentos de política: ¿Qué es y qué no es la Medicina de Familia?
Definiciones, modelos y límites... ¿Esto importa? Yo creo que sí, al menos a nivel del “sistema”. Mientras que las circunstancias individuales y las oportunidades pueden variar, un sistema sanitario que no implementa todo el ámbito de la Medicina de Familia es probable que sea menos coste-efectivo.
Fragmentos de política: Marco prioritario.
En enero, el Presidente Ejecutivo y yo asistimos al Encuentro del Premio Príncipe Mahindol en Bangkok en representación vuestra. Se trataba solamente de una invitación a ese Congreso político creado en memoria del Príncipe Mahidol de Songkla, reconocido como el “Padre de la Medicina Moderna y de la Sanidad Pública de Tailandia”.
Policy Bite : Priority setting.
In January, the CEO and I attended the Prince Mahindol Award Conference in Bangkok on your behalf. This is an ‘invitation only’ policy conference set up in the memory of Prince Mahindol of Songkla, who is recognized as ‘The Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health of Thailand’.
Policy Bite: can you measure quality?
I was invited to a policy summit in Washington last month. Hosted by the Robert Graham Centre, and attended by many family medicine leads from the U.S.A., its declared purpose was to look at how changes in the payment structures for health care in the U.S.A. may, or may not, incentivise the ‘triple aim’ of first contact, coordinated, continuous, comprehensive primary care.
Fragmentos de política: ¿Podemos mesurar la calidad?
El mes pasado me invitaron a una cumbre sobre política en Washington. Organizada por parte del Robert Graham Centre, y con la asistencia de muchos médicos de familia líderes de los Estados Unidos, el objetivo que perseguía la cumbre era el de estudiar hasta qué punto los cambios en las estructuras de pago de la asistencia sanitaria en los Estados Unidos incentivan o no el “triple objetivo” de la Atención Primaria de contacto personalizado, coordinado, continuado y atención completa.
Fragmentos de política: Pasar una revisión anual
Esta semana tuve mi evaluación – una especie de control anual de mi trabajo que me hizo un colega, y pasé por una valoración estandarizada basada en la evidencia que engloba todas las áreas de mi trabajo
Policy Bite: having an annual review
Prof Amanda Howe, WONCA President-elect, writes: I had my appraisal this week – an annual review of my work with a trained peer, and with a standardised submission of evidence that covers all areas of my work.
Fragmentos de política: Optativas, intercambios y ética
Es un gran privilegio tener la oportunidad de viajar a otro escenario y aprender de nuevos colegas. Aquellos de nosotros que trabajamos en la docencia médica debemos considerar cuál es la mejor forma de hacer este trabajo en relación a los nuestros estudiantes y residentes, así como asegurarnos de que viven una gran experiencia.
Policy Bite: Electives, exchanges and ethics
It is a great privilege to have the chance to go to another setting and learn from new colleagues. Those of us who work in medical schools need to consider how best to make this work for those who host our students and residents, as well as making sure they have a great experience.
Fragmentos de política: Sociedades público-privadas de Atención Primaria de salud – ¿cuál es el “balance”?
Todos los gobiernos tienen que decidir cómo satisfacer las necesidades de su gente, y la mayoría de elecciones políticas se basan en diferentes creencias de cómo lograr hacerlo. Las cuestiones fundamentales acerca de cómo financiar las inversiones de la asistencia sanitaria y los otros sectores públicos necesitan estar dotadas de una forma de pensamiento clara y de una revisión recurrente de las decisiones que se toman.
Policy Bite : Public-private partnerships for PHC
All governments have to decide how to meet the needs of their peoples, and most political elections are based on different beliefs as to how this can best be done. Fundamental issues about how to finance investment for health care and other public sectors require clear thinking and recurrent review of decisions made.
Policy Bite: Migration & refugee health – new challenges
The recent situation of rapid and unplanned migration in Europe has raised my awareness of a situation which many other regions have already experienced. The WONCA Europe conference saw the launch of the ‘Istanbul statement’ on refugee health, and much discussion
Fragmentos de Política: ¿Lo que se mide, se gestiona?
El cliché es, “si no se mide no se gestiona” – o simplemente puede no hacerse. Aunque existen numerosos riesgos asociados con querer medir cosas que no se pueden o no se deben medir, hay una cierta verdad en este dicho.
Policy Bite: What gets measured gets managed?
Prof Amanda Howe is on holidays, so this month’s Policy Bite is written by guest author Dr is Luisa Pettigrew. Luisa is a member of WONCA Executive and our liaison person with the WHO. The cliché is that “if it is not measured it is not managed” - or simply may not be done. Whilst there are numerous pitfalls associated with wanting to measure things that cannot or should not be measured, there is also some underlying truth in this saying.
Policy Bite: Gender and health – a major equity agenda
A new publication from colleagues in the Nederlands came my way this month, and reminded me of why I got involved with WONCA in the 1990s. The report was drawn to my attention by Professor Toine Lagro-Janssen, who was an academic colleague of our Past President Prof Chris van Weel.
Policy bite: The modern primary care workforce
I have recently been a member of an independent ‘Commission’ to make recommendations about the primary care workforce in England - very interesting to put one’s own ideas to scrutiny by equally intelligent and critical peers from other backgrounds.
Policy Bite: A brief note on election day…
Today my country goes to the polls. During the last government, we had a major health service reform, with a new ‘market’ model where more services could be contracted with private providers; family medicine doctors were tasked to manage the budget to buy services from the hospital and referral centres: and large scale reorganisation occurred, within the context of a taxation funded public health service
Policy Bite: The role of primary care in the ageing population
At the end of the day good primary health care for older people reflects the value we place on our elders; the ‘pay back’ we offer for their contribution, and the resources they still offer us. It is a test of civilised societies, a moral imperative, and what we hope for ourselves in our old age.
Fragmentos de política: Influencia exitosa para la medicina de familia
Os escribo para compartir con vosotros lo que podría ser necesario incluir en términos de estrategia en una 'hoja de ruta' que fortaleciera la medicina de familia en vuestro propio país, y también para compartir con vosotros las cosas que mi propia organización miembro de WONCA hizo para tratar de asegurar este alto nivel de influencia.
Policy Bite: successful lobbying for family medicine
I am writing to share with you what a ‘roadmap’ to strengthen family medicine in your own country might need to include in terms of strategy: and also to share with you the things my own WONCA member organisation, did to try to secure this high level intervention.
Honestidad y esperanza: algunas reflexiones sobre la maximización de nuestros mensajes
Fragmentos de política de Diciembre de 2014, por Amanda Howe: Las evidencias de avances increíbles por parte de las organizaciones miembro de WONCA se equilibran a menudo con decepciones: no hay suficientes residentes de medicina familiar en la formación, hay falta de compromiso por parte de los gobiernos, problemas de reembolso financiero ....
Honesty with hope – some reflections on maximising our messages
This month's Policy Bite with Amanda Howe - Evidence of amazing gains by WONCA member organisations are often offset by disappointments – not enough family medicine residents in training; lack of commitment from governments; problems of financial reimbursement; perceptions that we are less respected than other specialists; and constant political change and challenge.
Involving patients in family medicine – towards a WONCA policy position
Family doctors are natural advocates for patient involvement – since we are close to our patients and their communities, and we can see the need to empower people to help themselves where possible, the idea that extra effort may be needed to ensure patients have a voice in their own care may seem strange to us.
Fragmentos de política: ¿Qué entendemos por "atención integrada" y cómo podemos comprobar su integración?
“Integración” se ha convertido en la palabra de moda en la agenda política de la Salud: la OMS , la Fundación King , y el Nuffield Trust tienen todos ellos grandes programas de trabajo sobre este tema y en el Reino Unido los manifiestos preelectorales de los partidos políticos están inundados de la necesidad de la atención "integrada". Pero hay muchas definiciones de modelo que se están debatiendo, y estas tienden a depender de la naturaleza del sistema de salud y el nivel de integración previsto.
What do we mean by ‘integrated care’ – and how can we test its integrity?
Amanda Howe, President-elect writes another thought-provoking policy bite: ‘Integration’ has become the latest buzzword on the health policy agenda ... But there are many definitions and models being debated, and these tend to depend on the nature of the health system and the level of integration envisaged.
Fragmentos de política: Calidad en atención primaria – Haciendo el camino.
Acabo de finalizar la elaboración de un artículo para que lo valore el Consejo de la organización de la que soy miembro (Royal College GPs, Reino Unido). Deseamos revisar lo que hacemos a través de los miembros de nuestra sociedad para mejorar la calidad del cuidado que prestamos a nuestros pacientes – no solamente la seguridad, ni la calidad de los chequeos, sino la mejora de la calidad... Hay que apuntar alto pero ser realista y persistente – como es conocido Gandhi “usted debe ser el cambio que quiere ver en el mundo”- los demás le seguirán.
Policy bite: Quality in primary care – walking the walk.
We (the RCGP) want to review what we do via our members for patient quality of care – not just safe care, not even just quality checks, but quality improvement. ....
Aim high, but be realistic, and be persistent – as Gandhi is reputed to have said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world”– others will follow.
Fragmentos de política: ¿Por qué homenajear a los médicos jóvenes?
El reciente Congreso de WONCA Europa en Lisboa marcaba en el calendario la maravillosa cita del 10º aniversario del movimiento Vasco da Gama, la organización de los jóvenes médicos de familia europeos... me encontré reflexionando sobre por qué ese reconocimiento a los médicos debe limitarse exclusivamente a la etapa temprana de sus carreras.
Policy bite: Why celebrate young doctors?
The recent WONCA Europe conference in Lisbon marked the wonderful occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Vasco da Gama movement – the European young family doctors’ organisation ... I found myself reflecting on why we should particularly single out doctors in the early stage of their careers?
Fragmentos de política: Atención primaria (de salud): ¿cuál es la importancia de un nombre?
Existe un amplio apoyo internacional para el establecimiento de una cobertura universal de salud, con frecuentes referencias a la función esencial de la atención primaria de salud y con el fin de lograr este objetivo. Sin embargo, ¿qué significa realmente la atención primaria de salud? ¿Es lo mismo que la atención primaria? ¿Dónde encaja la medicina de familia?
Policy Bite from Amanda Howe - data collection
Difficult, dangerous, and definitely needed!
Amanda discussed the British Government's plan to make routine, the collection of anonymised ‘patient level’ data (age, sex, locality, attendance, medical problems…)
Fragmentos de Política con Amanda Howe, diciembre 2013
La Profesora Amanda Howe, nuestra nueva presidenta electa, afirmó en su discurso en el Consejo WONCA que iba a "ayudar con mensajes políticos. Así que ahora invitamos a Amanda a afrontar ese reto. Aquí está la tercera propuesta de Amanda, que va a ir ofreciéndolas de forma regular.
Policy Bite from Amanda Howe - the upskilling debate
Professor Amanda Howe, our new President–Elect, said in her speech at the WONCA Council that she would help with policy messages. She now takes up that challenge with her regular Policy Bites column - this being her third column.
WONCA Fragmentos de Política con Amanda Howe - octubre 2013
La Profesora Amanda Howe, nuestra nueva presidenta electa, afirmó en su discurso en el Consejo WONCA que iba a "ayudar con mensajes políticos. En WONCA… sabemos lo que queremos decir. Me gustaría trabajar en cómo lo decimos, conseguir documentos de información clara, precisa, para que puedas adaptarla al uso en tu entorno.” Así que ahora invitamos a Amanda a afrontar ese reto. Aquí está la segunda propuesta de Amanda
Policy bite - universal health coverage
Professor Amanda Howe, our new President–Elect, said in her speech at the WONCA Council that she would help with policy messages. She now takes up that challenge with her regular Policy Bites column - this being her second column.
WONCA Fragmentos de política con Amanda Howe – Presidenta Electa
La Profesora Amanda Howe, nuestra nueva presidenta electa, afirmó en su discurso en el Consejo WONCA que iba a "ayudar con mensajes políticos. En WONCA… sabemos lo que queremos decir. Me gustaría trabajar en cómo lo decimos, conseguir documentos de información clara, precisa, para que puedas adaptarla al uso en tu entorno.” Así que ahora invitamos a Amanda a afrontar ese reto.
Working Parties News
MDD Minds 101 in Focus
As MDD Minds 101 resonates with the footsteps of over 650 participants and already more than 50 graduated, our global program takes a significant stride in mental health education.
World Mental Health Day 2023
Join WONCA in celebrating this global event. Explore the article authored by Prof. Christos Lionis, chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health
Embracing the broad definition of Women’s Health
Although women’s health has a lot of focus worldwide, but the real definition of women’s health is still not clear or precise to many people. This has led to incorrect collection of data, screening, treatment, diagnosis, and information.
Cultural Impact: lifestyle and disease management
On 29th July, Friday, WONCA Working Party on Women and Family Medicine (WWPWFM)in association with The Spice Route India Movement (SAR) organized a webinar to discuss Influence of cultural practices on lifestyle and disease management.
An Occasional Rural Miscellany
Dr John Wynn-Jones, Immediate Past Chair WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice wrote an occasional “rural miscellany”. Read more.
YDM Webinar on Digital Health
Polaris and the WP on E-Health collaborated to develop a successful YDM Webinar on the role of digital health in Family Medicine
Join the RMA23 in Hobart, Tasmania
The conference will bring together a global community of Rural Generalists, rural consultant specialists, students, doctors in training, supervisors, medical educators and allied-health practitioners to celebrate your passion for delivering safe, culturally appropriate and consistent healthcare to rural and remote communities.
WONCA Air Health Train the Trainer Program.
After completing two self-directed online training courses, educational videos, and a webinar with presentations from existing trainers and air pollution teaching slides, trainers were ready to take their training to their local communities.
WWPWFM: Embrace Equity
Every year on the 8th of March, International women's day is celebrated to uplift, encourage, and influence women across the globe to rise and be the best versions of themselves within every field including social, political, cultural, economic and scientific activities.
Planetary Health Education for Primary Care is theme of a recent article publication at Lancet
Planetary Health challenges are rising and primary healthcare professionals should be prepared for dealing with it. In February 2023, the article “An international planetary health for primary care massive open online course” was published by Floss et al. at Lancet Planetary Health and analyzed the MOOC Planetary Health for Primary Care created by WONCA Environment and Telessaúde-RS.
Relaunch of Planetary Health Courses
Three courses about the theme were recommended by the World Health Organization in a letter to universities and all education stakeholders and will be relauched next month.
WONCA Statement of Support - Refugee Crisis
The consequences of the military aggression in Ukraine and the resultant humanitarian crisis have profound implications for health, for healthcare workers in Ukraine and surrounding countries, and for their systems of delivering care.
WONCA eHealth Webinar Series
On December 8, the WONCA Working Party on eHealth started a series of webinars with the session "Population Health for Low / Middle income and Remote Rural Regions
WONCA Besrour Early Primary Care Researcher Prizes
The WONCA Working Party on Research and the Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine inaugurated the WONCA Besrour Early Primary Care Researcher Prizes at the 23rd WONCA World Conference of Family Doctors 2021
WONCA Action Call for COP26
The Working Party on Environment has prepared a 'Call to Action' urging governments, agencies and WONCA stakeholders to take action to reach zero emissions by 2040.
Music and Mental Health: Tone of Mind
An effort of the WONCA Working Party for Mental Health led by Alfredo de Oliveira Neto (Brazil), Arnab Chowdhury (India) and Moisés Nunes (Brazil) that seeks to mitigate through music the psychosocial effects posed by the COVID19.
Planetary Health for Primary Care
After the success of the Planetary Health Online Course, the WONCA Environment and TelessaúdeRS-UFRGS launched the Planetary Health course for Primary Care, with a focus on clinical practice and the reality of health professionals.
Become a Rural Seeds Ambassador
Promote rural health as a career option, provide support for current rural health professionals, and advocate for better healthcare for rural communities globally
WONCA Calendar 2021
You can now download the WONCA Calendar 2021, an effort to spread information and create awareness amongst the general population about COVID-19.
WICC news – ICPC-3 launch on December 15, 2020
The completely modernised International Classification for Primary Care (ICPC) wiil be launched on December 15 and be available without cost, online at www.icpc-3.info, and includes supporting information and training material.
Mental Health Bulletin from Chris Dowrick
I trust you are all staying well, despite the resurgence of the pandemic in many parts of the world. The results of the turbulent US elections remind us that change is possible. As Jill Benson told us during our recent webinar: “We need to stay hopeful, because we know that hopelessness is more infectious that COVID-19”.
WP Research annual report
The annual report of the Working Party on Research who have managed numerous activities despite COVID-19
Annual report of the WONCA International Classification Committee
WICC was represented at many WONCA Region Conferences presenting posters or holding workshops on classification topics like ICPC and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The future: WICC will be putting all of its energy into the development of ICPC-3.
Presenting the Remote and Rural Institute Series
The joint WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice (Rural WONCA) and Toward Unity for Health (TUFH) Institute Series is being launched as part of the 17th Wonca World Rural Health Conference over four months starting 16th October with the conference opening ceremony.
Education for Primary Care free access articles November
Education for Primary Care: Issue 31:5 is now on line with the usual wide range of articles. Free access for a month is available for an article on “The design and delivery of a social prescribing scheme by medical students in general practice.”
News from WP on Mental Health
Professor Chris Dowrick, chair of Working Party on Mental Health, reports: I do hope you are all staying as well as possible in these exceptionally difficult times, with the pandemic spreading ever more rapidly around the world, accompanied by economic insecurities, political turmoil and other natural and man-made disasters.
Education for Primary Care free access articles
Education for Primary Care : Offers free access to important Covid articles and this month also free access to an article on GP training which highlights the importance of near peer teaching.
ICPC-3 field test invitation
The newest version ICPC-3 designed by the ICPC-3 Consortium in collaboration with the WONCA classification committee is in the testing phase. We would like to invite you to test it.
World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) 17 September 2020
World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) 2020 will be observed across the world on 17 September. WHO will be launching a global campaign for World Patient Safety Day 2020 to emphasize the importance of health worker safety as a priority for patient safety.
Database of "Rural Miscellany" by John Wynn-Jones
Dr John Wynn-Jones, Immediate Past Chair WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice has been writing a regular “rural miscellany” email since March, to provide resources on COVID-19 but also to give us a touch of poetry as a diversion in these difficult times. His body of work is now available on one website for your enjoyment.
News from WP on Mental Health
Prof Chris Dowrick, Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health, writes on some resources in the time of COVID-19 in his latest newsletter to colleagues.
Book review: How to do Primary Care Research
WONCA's Working Party on Research through Felicity Goodyear-Smith and Bob Mash have produced a book on "How to do Primary Care Research". A review of this book has been published and can be found online.
International PHC and COVID-19 Study
This multinational survey aimed to understand characteristics and strategies employed by different countries to deal with COVID-19 from a PHC perspective to determine: factors most associated with national mortality rates during the pandemic period to date, and lessons to better address both current and future pandemics
Education for Primary Care feature free access article
Prof Val Wass, Chair WONCA Working Party on Education writes on the latest open access item in Education for Primary Care: from Felicity Goodyear-Smith "Provision of e-learning programmes to replace undergraduate medical students’ clinical general practice attachments during COVID-19 stand-down"
WONCA and assessment of digital health
No method to evaluate digital health solutions through the eyes of family doctors existed and therefore WONCA, supported by its Working Party on eHealth, decided to develop a dedicated assessment framework. This framework includes 11 domains of evaluation: ranging from user aspects to healthcare system and ethical matters.
Survey on the effect of PHC on COVID outcomes
Felicity Goodyear-Smith writes: We want to know how prepared you think your country was to deal with COVID-19, how your country responded, the nature of your primary health care system, and changes that have been made in fighting this pandemic. We want to see how these factors might influence the rate and pattern of incidence and deaths.
Help in troubling times
Two of our Working Party chairs, Chris Dowrick and John Wynn-Jones are leading the way in encouraging colleagues to say what they are finding helpful in these troubling times dominated by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Education for Primary Care open access items
Prof Val Wass, Chair WONCA Working Party on Education writes on the latest open access items in Education for Primary Care. We are pleased to announce that the March issue 31:2 is now on line. This issue shares global experience of primary care very much linked with WONCA. It emphasises how we learn from each other.
17th World Rural health conference to go ahead - virtually
Rural WONCA executive has met and decided that the conference must go on – but virtually. After much consideration, the Executive have decided that with COVID-19 spreading rapidly, it is not sensible or prudent to have a physical gathering of rural doctors in Dhaka. Doctors are needed by their rural communities now more than ever.
Rural Round-up: Bruce Chater on World Rural Health Conference 2020
We would like to welcome members of WONCA and WONCA Direct Members to our conference in Bangladesh from 15th to 18th April
This year is the 25th Anniversary of official establishment of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. Professor Roger Strasser who wrote the WONCA policy on Training for Rural Practice, is a keynote at the conference.
Mental Health Matters: February 2020
Prof Christopher Dowrick, Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health writes: Fortunately, there is much for our Working Party to celebrate; including (as you will see at the end of this bulletin) the joy of making music together.
A New Partnership: WONCA and NRHA Together in 2019
Logan Schmaltz, NRHA Student Outreach Coordinator from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences writes on student involvement at the WONCA World Rural health conference in Albuquerque in 2019
Rural Round-up: Maria Bakola on telemedcine in Greece
Maria Bakola of Greece writes about telemedicine in rural and remote areas in Greece from ancient times to today... Greece, due to the geographical heterogeneity, combines mountain landscapes and lakes, as well as incredible beaches and many islands.
Rural Seeds 2019 annual summary
Veronica Rasic writes about the activities of the Young Doctors and medical students involved in the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice.
WONCA Rural's Outstanding Service Award to John Wynn-Jones
The WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice Award for Outstanding Service to Rural Practice was presented to Dr John Wynn-Jones at the 16th WONCA World Rural Health Conference, Albuquerque October 2019.This award recognises a clinician’s exemplary service to their rural communities, to their professional colleagues and to the next generation of doctors.
Education for Primary Care : free access article
Free Access is being offered for a paper in the 30:4 issue : As professional identity formation is becoming an increasingly important concept and this paper refers to three important papers on this I felt it offered an opportunity to reflect on how as GP educators we can really support our students and trainees to develop in the challenging and rapidly changing health care environment we all face
World Mental Health Day report
Good mental health is related to mental and psychological well-being. Over the years, there have been increasing cases of anxiety, depression and suicides. One person dies every 40 seconds from suicide. Every suicide is a tragedy that has long-lasting effects on the people left behind. This year’s World Mental Health Day focus was on what can be done to prevent suicide.
WHO Mental Health Forum: Geneva, October 2019
Christopher Dowrick, chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health reports on the WHO Mental Health Forum: Geneva, 14-15 October 2019: I was delighted to participate once again in this annual event, together with WONCA colleagues Gabby Ivbijaro and Abdullah Al-Khatami. It was an excellent networking and information sharing event, highlighting important developments in global mental health.
WICC annual report
Prof Thomas Kuehlein, WONCA International Classification Committee (WICC) reports:
Rural Round-up: annual report highlights
John Wynn-Jones, chair WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice has provided his final annual report before handing over to Bruce Chater. This is an edited version of the report. The full version will be available in the WONCA Annual report 2018-19:
Mental Health Matters - annual report
Prof Christopher Dowrick, chair of the Working Party on Mental Health reports: The aim of the working party is to enhance global equity of access to high quality primary mental health care. Our objectives are to improve internal structures; to offer mental health guidance for WONCA members; and to provide global leadership on primary mental health care.
Working Party on e-Health annual report
Pramendra Prasad Gupta, chair of the Working Party on e-Health reports: The aim of the working party is to identify the needs of patients and professionals to ensure relevant patient-focused information and health IT tools are available to all.
September 17 - Global Patient Safety Day
We encourage all family doctors in the world to celebrate together on September 17, 2019, World Patient Safety Day. We all take part to build a safer health system.
Walk into the Rattlesnake Pit - WONCA Rural in Albuquerque
The WONCA World Rural health conference comes to Albuquerque in October. Please consider taking up our invitation to present your passion at the “Rattlesnake Pit” session on the Assembly Day of the World Rural Health Conference in Albuquerque, October 12th.
Island Generalist Medicine Symposium
Manabu Saito, Director of the Rural Generalist Program in Japan, writes on a symposium held at WONCA Kyoto 2019 (in conjunction with the Japan Primary Care Association).
Scholarships for WONCA Rural conference
Scholarships are now available to help offset the cost of attendance for the 16th WONCA World Rural Health Conference Oct. 12-15 in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA.
Improving care of patients with depression and anxiety at WONCA Kyoto
Shelly B Rodrigues, Deputy Executive Vice President, California Academy of Family Physicians and Chris Larrison, Principal, Healthcare Performance Consulting Inc, report on workshops at the recent WONCA Asia Pacific region conference in Kyoto on improving care of patients with depression and anxiety.
Working Party on Women and Family Medicine meet in Africa
The WONCA Working Party on Women and Family medicine (WWPWFM) is active in the WONCA Africa region and has participated and organized preconference meetings, and workshops since 2009. WWPWFM Africa region also provide leadership and mentorship in the region through her members who are on the executive board of the WONCA Africa Region.
Desde mi punto de vista... junio 2019
Este mes, pregunté a la Profesora Val Wass, como docente de renombre a nivel mundial y como miembro de la WONCA y Tesorera Honoraria, para darle puntos de vista acerca de cómo la educación de los estudiantes de medicina necesita adaptarse al cambiante entorno sanitario.
In my View: Prof Val Wass
Professor Val Wass, globally renowned medical educator, Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Education, and also WONCA Member At Large and Honorary Treasurer, to give her views on how the education of medical students needs to adapt to the changing health environment.
Rural Round-up; Training for under-resourced areas
Sommer Aldulaimi MD FAAFP discusses the way one urban-based Family Medicine Residency Program in Arizona, USA, has accomplished 45% of its graduating residents from the last three years working in rural practice and 100% of the graduates from the last three years working in healthcare professional shortage areas in North America.
WP on Rural Practice report
Dr John Wynn-Jones, Chair WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice (WWPRP), reports on past year's activities.
WP on Mental health report
Prof Chris Dowrick, chair of the WONCA Working Party for Mental Health, reports on activities during the past year.
WP on Education report
Prof Val Wass, chair of the WONCA Working Party on education (WWPE) reports on the past year's activities: “Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world” Mandela
Rural Round-up: Targeted Rural Health Education
Utilizing various forms of social media to reach the general public is a tool we can continually improve. The use of Targeted Rural Health Education to enhance the health of rural North Dakotans is a novel approach to community education. Kamille S Sherman, co-director of Family Medicine Clerkship and Rural Opportunities in Medical Education, at the University of North Dakota, describes a program of student-led writing to address a local health concern: Targeted Rural Health Education (TRHE).
Medication without harm – A WHO meeting
Dr Ruth Wilson of Canada, reports on the WHO consultative meeting “Implementing WHO’s Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication without harm. Country guidance.” The meeting took place from November 22 – 23, 2018, in Geneva.
In my View : Declaration on Planetary Health
Prof Sir Andy Haines writes about the "Declaration calling for the family doctors of the world to act on planetary health" - a result of the WONCA Working Party on the Environment and the Planetary Health Alliance Clinicians for Planetary Health Working Grou
Free access article from Felicity Goodyear-Smith in 'Education for Primary Care'
Prof Val Wass OBE, Chair WONCA Working Party on Education writes: The editorial “If a clod bee washed away by the Sea……” (John Donne) argues the importance of collaborating globally to move education research forward. The affiliation with WONCA is at the heart of this. This month's free access article is from Felicity Goodyear-Smith in 'Education for Primary Care'.
World Rural Health conference in USA 2019 - call for abstracts
The USA’s National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences Center have partnered to bring the 16th WONCA World Rural Health conference to the United States for the first time in eight years. Save the date for October 12-15, 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Call for posters and presentation proposals is open until March 29.
January 2019 report of WICC
WONCA International Classification Committee (WICC) chair, Prof Thomas Kühlein, writes the January 2019 report of WICC
Rural Round-up: the rise and rise of rural generalism
Nick Schubert and Tarun Sen Gupta (Australia), write: Rural Generalist Medicine (RGM) has been a feature of medicine in countries with large rural and/or remote areas for some time [10, 11], despite variations in rural generalist titles, nature of training programs and models of care.
Rural Round-up: Reformation of Rural PHC in Ukraine
A/Prof Victoria Tkachenko, from Kiev, in Ukraine, writes on the new wave of reformation in primary health in her country. The implementation of family medicine in Ukraine started in 1986-1987. Many positive interventions have been introduced since then, but the results have been insufficient.
Air Health Train the Trainer applications
We announce our call for applications for the Air Health Train the Trainer Program. This program is run by WONCA through the Working Party on the Environment, which aims to increase awareness among family doctors and other primary healthcare practitioners in Lower and Middle Income countries about the health risks of exposure to air pollution,
A healthy climate for change
Alice McGushin (UK) of the WONCA Working Party on the Environment writes on recent activities and events on climate change and health: the launch of the 2018 report for the “Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change” and COP24 - the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Katowice.
Rural Round-up: A PHC model in rural Sri Lanka
Dr Gobith Ratnasingam, a young family doctor and council member of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice presents a report of a model for primary care which is being implemented in a rural part of Sri Lanka called “Community-Oriented Primary Care”.
Mental Health Matters : 2018 wrap up
Prof Chris Dowrick, Chair of WONCA Working Party on Mental Health writes: it has been an eventful and highly productive year for our working party. Congratulations to three members of our working party who have achieved important awards: Sonia Roache-Barker (Trinidad & Tobago), Gabby Ivbijaro (UK), Shimnaz Nazeer (Qatar)
Rural Round Up: Taking the Rural Alma Ata forward in Seoul
John Wynn-Jones writes : Our 15th World Rural Health Conference last April in Delhi seems such a long way now as we find ourselves preparing for another WONCA Conference, the 22nd WONCA World Conference which will be held in Seoul from October 17 to 21. Included are a list of rural themed presentations and workshops in Seoul.
WP on Education update and Seoul preconference
Prof Val Wass updates us on the activities of the Working Party on Education including the challenges for the group, the preconference in Seoul and the latest open access article of interest from "Education for Primary Care"
Rural Round Up: WP on Rural Practice annual report
This has been another busy year for the WONCA Working Party on Rural practice. John Wynn-Jones reports on conferences including the 15th WONCA World rural health conference held in India; as well as policies and statements, the rural seeds movement, special initiatives, networking and communication as well as future thinking.
Working Party on eHealth Annual Report
Ilkka Kunnamo (Finland), chair of the Working Party on eHealth reports:
Time has come for me to retire from the position as convenor of the Working Party and thank all colleagues who have been involved in its activities.
International Classification committee (WICC) annual report
The annual WONCA International Classification Committee (WICC) meeting in 2017 was held from 26 August to 1.September in Lyon/France. The main topics were the international ICPC-3 Consortium founded for the development of a new version of the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-3) under the lead of Kees van Boven at the University of Nijmegen/Netherlands and its relationship to WICC. Furthermore the WICC directly worked on the content of the future ICPC-3. Another important topic was the development of a primary care version (linearization) of ICD-11 in collaboration with WHO.
Rural roundup: building research capacity in rural settings
Prof Christos Lionis (Greece) writes: Rural primary health care research promotes excellence in clinical practice and has been shown to improve staff recruitment and retention. While progress has been made recently to support research excellence in rural health care in Australia, Canada, the USA and some European countries, research in rural primary health care settings has received insufficient attention worldwide.
Family Doctor and Medically Unexplained Symptoms
Prof Christopher Dowrick, chair of Working Party for Mental Health tells us about the latest resource produced by a task group of the Working Party or use by family doctors : "Addressing the needs of patients with Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS)"
Working Party on Women & Family Medicine annual report
Kate Anteyi, chair of the WONCA Working Party on Women & Family Medicine (WWPWFM) reports on activities July 2017 – June 2018. The WWPWFM goals for the 2016-2018 biennial is to have a sustained impact in WONCA regions through expansion, networks and linkages, and address women’s health at primary care through family medicine perspective.
Working Party on Research annual report
Prof Felicity Goodyear-Smith Chair reports on 2017-18 activities. Research WONCA has been very active in the past year, the membership has grown and communication is maintained via a Google discussion group, with 68 members of the Research Assembly.
Mental Health Matters: year in review
Prof Chris Dowrick, Chair WONCA Working Party on Mental Health reports on the 2016-18 Activity Plan. Our three objectives for 2016-2018 are to improve internal structures; to offer mental health guidance for WONCA members; and to provide global leadership on primary mental health care.
Working Party on Education Annual Report
Val Wass OBE, Chair, WONCA Working Party on Education provides a report on the working party activities over the past year including considering outcomes achieved and plans for the future.
Rural Round Up: Delhi WONCA Rural conference report
Many have just returned from an extremely successful WONCA World Rural Health conference in Delhi. Dr Pratyush Kumar, chair of the Host Organising committee and Dr Raman Kumar President of the Academy of Family Physicians of India report on the many aspects of this wonderful event.
Rural Round-up: Primary Care on Skye – Quintessential Healthcare
This month we reproduce a blog entry from RuralGP.com written by Dr Steve McCabe who works at the Portree Medical Practice on the Isle of Skye and giving his perspective on rural healthcare… "I work as part of a group practice in Portree, the largest settlement on Scotland’s second largest island, Skye. Skye is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful islands in the world."
Movie: "Planetary Health? What is this?"
The young doctors and medical students of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice 'Rural Seeds" have worked together with young members of the Working Party on the Environment to make an innovative movie "Planetary Health? What is this?"
Rural Roundup: Veronica Rasic, co-chair of Rural Seeds writes
Dr Veronika Rasic is a GP trainee and co-chair of Rural Seeds, a group of young doctors and medical students with an interest in rural practice. Veronica recently authored a blog entry on the Transformative Education for Health Professionals. The subject of the blog entry is “Connecting Future Rural Healthcare Workers with Rural Communities”
Reto de seguridad del paciente de la OMS: “Medicación Sin Daño” (#MWH Pride)
La Doctora María-Pilar Astier-Peña, presidenta del Grupo de Trabajo de WONCA World de Calidad y Seguridad WONCA Working Party on Quality and Safety participó en una reunión de expertos sobre “acción temprana para apoyar la implementación del tercer reto mundial de seguridad del paciente de la Organización Mundial de la Salud” “Medicación Sin Daño” (#MWH Pride).
Rural Round-up: A Passage to India
The WONCA rural family will be meeting once again in two months’ time in Delhi for the 15th WONCA World Rural Health Conference. It is this global collective approach that has made a difference over the last 22 years since we met in Shanghai in 1996 for our first inaugural conference.
WHO Patient Safety Challenge “Medication Without Harm” (#MWH Pride)
Dr Maria-Pilar Astier-Peña (Pictured), chair of the WONCA Working Party on Quality and Safety has participated in an expert consultation concerning “Early global action to support implementation of the third WHO Patient Safety Challenge “Medication Without Harm” (#MWH Pride).
Core Competencies of Family Doctors in Mental Health Care - 2018
Chris Dowrick, chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health writes about the latest resource produced by his Working Party : Core Competencies of Family Doctors in Mental Health Care. In the document they consider that there are six domains for the core competencies of family doctors in primary mental health care.
Education for Primary Care - February free articles
Every month the journal Education for Primary Care provides WONCA members with free access to one interesting article. We are offering free access this month to a paper from Maggie Bartlett and the team at Keele Medical School UK on community attachments for 15 weeks in final year and the accompanying stimulating commentary from Paul Worley.
Working Party on Education New Year Update
Prof Val Wass, chair of the WONCA Working Party on Education, updates us on the latest and very successful activities of the working party in Thailand, and more to come in 2018
Wanted: Low and Middle Income Country leaders in PHC practice or research.
We are a research team supported by WONCA and we seek panel members from Low and Middle Income Countries. The team is led by Prof Felicity Goodyear-Smith, Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Research, and co-investigators include WONCA President Prof Amanda Howe. Our project will identify the most important research questions on the organisation and financing of primary health care in low and middle income countries throughout the world.
Rural round-up: Society for Young Rural Surgeons
Lauren Smithson MD, together with some American colleagues struggling with communication and isolation in wanting to train in rural medicine, started the society for young rural surgeons (SYRUS). This was something that came out of a need for people with rural interests in health care being able to find mentors, jobs, and training opportunities in rural medical careers. Basically, we need connectivity, and we need a strong rural voice in medical training. Lauren is a surgeon in St Anthony, Newfoundland and writes more about SYRUS.
WONCA in Bonn: Health and the climate negotiations
Climate change is the biggest health threat of the 21st century--and tackling it is perhaps our best opportunity to better global health. How are current medical learners and health professionals interacting with international climate change negotiations?
WONCA 2018 Rural conference abstracts close soon
We invite you to 15th WONCA World Rural Health Conference at New Delhi from 26-29 April 2018. Registration and Abstract submission is open for all. Last Date for Abstract Submission is 31st December.
Promoting Planetary Health - in Iberoamericana region
Paola Rava Dellepiane, WONCA Working Party on the Environment member writes more on the issue of WONCA conferences as a very favorable setting to promote the issue of Planetary Health and increase the general awareness for it.
Education WP at the Asia Pacific conference
My colleagues Professor Nobutaro Ban (Japan), Dr Eva Irene Maglonzo (Philippines), Victor Ng (Canada), Hashmet Parveen (Brunei) and Chandramani Thuraisingham (Malaysia) joined me to run sessions on (i) The Undergraduate (UG)Curriculum (ii) Continuous Professional Development and (iii) Formative Assessment.
Policy Bite: Rural priorities and progress – Australia
WONCA has had a Working Party on Rural Practice for many years. Their vision is “health for all rural people around the world”, and, as for WONCA as a whole, one of the key aims of their advocacy is to ensure governments recognise the importance of family medicine and its rural and remote workforce. It is therefore a source of celebration that Prof Paul Worley, a member of the WONCA Rural Working Party, has been appointed as the first Rural Health Commissioner of Australia
Mental Health Matters - November activities update
Prof Christopher Dowrick, Chair of WONCA Working Party on Mental Health, reports: Members of our working party continue to be busy, all round the world. In the Asia-Pacific region, Weng Chin has successful launched our new guidance on Non-drug interventions for common mental health problems during the Pattaya conference this week. I am delighted with this document, and commend it to you.
Rural Round-up: A Rural Health Commissioner
Paul Worley has just been announced as the first Rural Health Commissioner of Australia. He is not only the first person in Australia to hold this position, but he is probably the first person anywhere in the world to hold such an important, high level government post.
Mental Health resource: GP/FP Role in non drug interventions
launched at the WONCA Asia Pacific Region Conference this week: "Family doctors’ role in providing non-drug interventions (NDIs) for common mental health disorders in primary care" is a new resource produced by the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health
Working Party on Women -recent activities
The WONCA Working Party for Women & Family Medicine (WWPWFM) was involved in various activities recently and the wokring party executive would like to share a summary report. It is going to be an exciting one-year preparing for Seoul, October 2018. Please come share your ideas and tell your stories of the wonderful work we all do for our patients and communities, and the challenges we face.
WONCA Rural Africa (WoRA) launched
The launching of WONCA Rural Africa (WoRA) took place as scheduled during the 5th Joint WONCA Africa conference / South Africa Academy of Family Physicians in Pretoria, South Africa, on Friday 18th August 2017.
Working Party on Research Annual Report
Prof Felicity Goodyear-Smith, chair of WONCA Working Party on Research provides the working party's Annual Report July 2016 to June 2017 - The WONCA Working Party on Research (WWPR) has been increasingly active in the past year, our membership is growing and a Google discussion group has been set up.
Mental Health Matters - Annual Report Working Party on Mental Health
Christopher Dowrick, chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health (WWPMH) reports on activities in 2016-17. Since November 2016, we have made substantial progress on our three broad objectives: to improve internal structures; to offer mental health guidance for WONCA members; and to provide global leadership on primary mental health care.
Rural round up: Jesse Rockmore, medical student, writes
I am Jesse Rockmore, a 4th year osteopathic medical student in the United States.
I am originally from a small town in the lower Appalachian Mountains in Georgia. Poor access to primary and surgical care in my small town compelled me to pursue a career in rural health care.
Promoting Planetary Health
The WONCA Europe 2017 conference seemed a very favorable setting to promote the issue of Planetary Health and increase the general awareness for it. Some of this happened, but the potential is much greater.
Another busy and fruitful year @RuralWONCA
Dr John Wynn-Jones, Chair of RuralWONCA (WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice) summarises the annual report of the Working Party: It has been particularly busy year with two conferences within six months; at the World WONCA Conference in Rio de Janeiro (November 2016) and at our own 14th WONCA World Rural Health Conference in Cairns Australia (April 2017). Both were highly successful and it was valuable for our council to meet on both occasions.
Education for Primary Care free access paper on supervision
This paper explores ways peer group supervision in a long term well established group of general practitioners can improve communication and patient centred care at the same time maintaining enthusiasm and preventing burn out. In Denmark group supervision for general practitioners is an established part of continuing professional development.
Rural Round-up: WONCA Africa rural group endorsed
The WONCA Rural Africa group (WoRA) was introduced at the 14th WONCA Rural Assembly in Cairns Australia and was unanimously accepted. WoRA will be launched on the 18 August 2017 during the 5th WONCA Africa region conference in Pretoria and in India during 15th Rural WONCA conference 2018.
Training of Ukrainian Family Physicians in ICPC-2.
The government of Ukraine, together with the WHO-office in Kiev, is engaged in a process of transformation of the health care system, strengthening primary care and family medicine. Dr. Kees van Boven and Prof. Jan De Maeseneer gave a two-days training workshop for 50 family doctors, coming from the different Oblasts (“Provinces” in Ukraine), in Kiev.
Rural Round-up: medical students reflect on the WONCA Rural conference
Two Australian medical students, Thomas Currie (6th Year Medicine, James Cook University) and William Moorhead (4th Year Medicine, University of Queensland) – ‘Tom’ and ‘Billy’ attended the WONCA World Rural health conference in Cairns in early May. They provide their perspectives on the conference.
#ruralwonca - check out our gallery and post-event wrap
If you missed this amazing event, now is your opportunity to see our highlights reel! Thanks to everyone who attended the 14th World Rural Health Conference. It's hard to pick a highlight - there's so many to choose from! So here's some stand out events from the four days of conferencing.
Rural Round-up: David Hogg on RuralGP.com
This month, David Hogg, a rural GP from the Isle of Arran, Scotland and tells us about his innovative website RuralGP.com... The aim of the site is to network and embrace rural general practice - and whilst there has been an inevitable Scottish focus, I am keen to feature any material relevant to international rural practice.
WONCA Rural 2018 announced
Its a great pleasure to announce the 15th WONCA World Rural Health Conference, South Asia Rural health conference (WRHC 2018) to be held in New Delhi from 26 - 29th April 2018. Early bird registration discounts are now open.
WP on Education- Cairns and Prague activities
Val Wass, chair of the WONCA Working Party on Education summarises the group's planned activities at the next two WONCA conferences - the world rural conference in Cairns in late April, and WONCA Europe in Prague in late June.
Rural story on Northern Ireland crisis goes viral
In recent weeks a story on the Primary Care crisis in Northern Ireland written by our colleague Michael Smyth has stimulated enormous discussion on the WONCA Working Party on Rural practice google group. If you are not a member, find out what all the fuss is about as Michael writes for WONCA News.
Rural round-up: Dave Schmitz on collaboration with the USA
David Schmitz, executive member of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice (WPRP) for North America and the president of the USA's 2017 National Rural Health Association (NRHA), shares his hopes for collaboration and upcoming conferences.
Rural round up: The World of Rural Health
John Wynn-Jones, Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice speaks of his hopes for the 14th WONCA Rural health conference coming up in Cairns at the end of April.
Rural round up: The development of the Rural Family Medicine Café
Mayara Floss is a keynote speaker at the WONCA World Rural health conference coming to Cairns, Australia from 29 April- 2 May 2017. she created the Rural Family Medicine Café to provide a forum to discuss Rural Health and has now written a "how to" manual so others can expand on the rural cafe movement
WICC report 2015-16
WICC is the WONCA International Classification Committee, the oldest working committee of WONCA. The WICC currently has 45 members from 29 countries. "A classification is much more than the annoying outflow of bureaucrats. Instead it is a tool to separate the fuzzy world into disjunctive categories in order to make it countable and statistically describable."
WONCA Working Party for Mental Health Activity Plan 2016-18
The aim of the working party is to enhance global equity of access to high quality primary mental health care. Our objectives are to improve internal structures, offer mental health guidance for WONCA members and provide global leadership on primary mental health care. Here are the activities planned for the next two years.
Mental Health Matters - news after Rio
Prof Chris Dowrick the new chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health (WWPMH) intends a regular series of bulletins to keep you all in touch with latest developments and activities for our Working Party. Here is news following on from Rio.
WONCA Rural comes to Cairns Australia, in April 2017
The 14th WONCA World Rural Health Conference will be held at the Cairns Convention Centre, Australia, from 29 April to 2 May 2017. The conference will be based around themes most relevant to all rural and remote health practitioners. These include social and environmental determinants of health; leadership, education and workforce; social accountability and social capital, and rural clinical practices: people and services.
Donate or register for bursaries to attend WONCA Rural Conference
“Young Doctors”, doctors from developing countries, and medical students, are invited to apply for bursaries to support them to attend the WONCA Rural Health Conference which will be held in Cairns, Australia from 29 April -2 May 2017.
Others are invited to support bursaries for colleagues or medical students.
Rural round-up : from Norway to Rio: three locations, three messages
John Wynn- Jones writes: I have just returned from a remarkable international symposium in Norway on the research associated with generalism in rural practice, which was hosted by the Centre for Rural Medicine at the University of Tromso. Although the term rural generalism appears to be new, it is really a reaffirmation of the fact that doctors working in rural & isolated communities are by nature generalists. Good rural doctors, who have such a wide scope of practice have to be good generalists.
WONCA Policy on eHealth
WONCA has launched its new policy statement on eHealth developed by the WONCA Working Party on eHealth. The statement on eHealth calls for information technology that supports the family doctor in providing patient-centered care that has high quality and is safe.
World Mental Health Day (October 10) educational material
World Mental Health Day (10 October) is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy. Professor Gabriel Ivbijaro current
President WFMH (World Federation for Mental Health) encourages us all to promote the day.
Young Doctor Movements Engaging in Rural Health Policy
Presented as a joint workshop from VdGM-EURIPA at WONCA Europe 2016 conference in Copenhagen this month - the aim was to get doctors thinking about ways in which they could influence policy changes to improve care for their patients and their own working conditions.
Rural round-up : A look at telehealth
Dr Jo Scott-Jones of New Zealand and Dr Kate Dawson of Scotland (NHS) write about telehealth - Following the lead of the USA and Australia three years ago we developed a Rural Health Alliance in New Zealand, bringing together 40 different organisations that have an interest in the health and wellbeing of rural communities.
Rural Roundup: Rabia Afridi in collaboration with Sameena Shah
A story from Pakistan - Dr Rabi Afridi moves to a remote area of Pakistan and commences work in charge of a Basic Health Unit. "My name is Rabia Afridi, the youngest and most pampered of my family. I was born into a Pathan family from the North West province of Pakistan"
Rural Health Stories – a Pakistan example, Dr Sanam Shah
Aa sample story has been submitted from the rural areas of Pakistan by Dr Sanam Shah. You will realise after reading this story that why there is need for accessible, affordable and quality healthcare in rural areas. She has written it so beautifully that you can almost feel and visualise the situation faced by doctor as well as the patient.
WONCA Mental Health Consultancy in Moldova
Members of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health are participating in a major policy initiative to help Moldova move from institutional to community-based mental health care. In collaboration with the European Association for Communication in Healthcare (EACH) and NIVEL in the Netherlands, and with coordination from Trimbos, we are running a series of 'train the trainer' courses.
Rural Round-up: Scott Kellerman - what we have in common
Bwindi Community Hospital, adjacent to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of southwestern Uganda, is a 120 bed hospital rated as one of the best in Uganda. The hospital’s original focus was addressing the health care of the Batwa pygmies, the original inhabitants of the Bwindi Forest.
Rural Round-up: reflections on three years
John Wynn-Jones write: On behalf of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice (WWPRP), I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year. We are coming to the end of our latest triennium and it’s a good time to reflect on what we have achieved and what we need to do in the next three years.
Research Workshop at WONCA Istanbul
A one-day workshop on Research in Primary Health Care was organised by a joint collaboration between the European General Practice Research Network and the Vasco da Gama Movement during the VdGM preconference in Istanbul
WHO mental health guidelines updated
The World Health Organisation has recently updated its mhGAP guidelines for the management of common mental health problems in low and middle income countries.
WONCA works closely with WHO and offers consultancy services in support of mhGAP.
Rural Round-up: a Tokunoshima after party
Ewen McPhee writes of an exchange of ideas between rural doctors from Queensland, Australia, and rural doctors in Japan, after a chance meeting at the WONCA rural conference in Dubrovnik.
Rural Round-up: a rural practice in Southern Italy
I am a middle aged Italian family doctor who lives and works in a rural village in Southern Italy. I work in a solo doctor practice and my surgery is in a wing of my own house. This is quite unusual and considered barely legal nowadays, but is tolerated as I started my practice long ago.
WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice feature
This month we make a special rural feature in WONCA News. In April, the WONCA world rural health conference was held in Dubrovnik and our very active WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice formally met. The WWPRP is chaired by Dr John Wynn-Jones of Wales and he and Dr Jo Scott-Jones of New Zealand have fueled such a wave of enthusiasm from working party members that we have decided to make a special rural feature in this month's WONCA News.
Engaging Students and Young Doctors with Rural Health
Veronika Rasic, a family medicine trainee, from Croatia and a member of the Vasco da Gama Movement for young doctors writes on her experience with the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice in Croatia recently. She is now looking to connect with other young rural enthusiasts.
Working Party on Rural Practice’s resource page
At the WONCA Rural health conference in Dubrovnik the new Working Party on Rural Practice’s resource page was launched to augment the existing webpage on WONCA's website. The new resource page will provide an up to date working space
Rural Round-up: Island hopping in the Atlantic
Dr Noreen Lineen-Curtis, a general practitioner from Achill, County Mayo, Ireland says that life as a rural GP on the West coast of Ireland is never, ever dull. Read on to find out why ..
A rural doctor’s earthquake experience
This is the story of a doctor’s experience in the worst case disaster situation, it is a story unsung bravery and of the courage staff at Jiri Hospital, Nepal, displayed during and after the disaster - Dr Roshan Khatri, Medical Superintendent at Jiri Hospital, Dolakha district east of Kathmandu writes.
WONCA Working Party on Mental Health meet in Lille
From 28th-30th April, a conference took place in Lille, France, under the title “Mental Health for all: connecting people and sharing experience”. The WONCA Working Party on Mental Health took advantage of the presence of WWPMH members for a meeting.
WONCA Working Party on eHealth – new name, new plans
The WONCA Working Party on Informatics has changed its name to WONCA Working Party on eHealth (WWPEH). The new name reflects the wider scope of electronic tools, services and electronic health record functionalities.
WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice report on Dubrovnik
The WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice met over two days before the beginning of the WONCA World Rural Health Conference in Dubrovnik in April 2015. People from all over the world, movers and shakers in rural health education, research and in health service provision, many jobbing doctors, trainees and students took part in two meetings
Rural round-up: Are you a rural hero?
Elsewhere we report on the launch of the Rural Heroes Project in April, in Dubrovnik. Are you a rural hero too?? ... take the Rural Health Hero test designed by Jo Scott-Jones of New Zealand.
Rural Heroes project launched in Dubrovnik
At the WONCA World Rural Health Conference in Dubrovnik we made the first presentations of stories of some of your rural heroes. Two of those stories are shared this month in WONCA News - Dr Andrija Štampar and Dr John MacLeod.
Welcome to Rural Health in Dubrovnik
The WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice is holding the WONCA World Rural Health conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia this week. Welcome messages were given by the WONCA President and also WONCA Europe Vice President, Anna Stavdal.
Rural Round-up: networking with rural colleagues around the world
The Working Party on Rural Practice as part of the WONCA Family provides support and adds an influential voice at international policy tables to further the needs of our communities.
If the idea of being “linked in” to rural colleagues around the globe appeal read more.
Rural Heroes Project 2015
The WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice Rural Heroes Project invites WONCA Member Organizations to celebrate the life and work of a rural doctor from their country who has inspired others, and led the way in family medicine for rural communities.
Rural round-up: Dubrovnik - a temptation now and in history
Tanja Pekez- Pavlisko is this month's author of rural round-up. Tanja is president of the Organising Committee of the coming WONCA World Rural Health conference being held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in April. Here she reflects on the rich history of Dubrovnik and medicine.
Pacific Rim Indigenous doctors meet in Chinese Taipei
WONCA President Prof Michael Kidd sent a video address to PRIDoC 2014 (Pacific Rim Indigenous Doctors conference) held in Hualien, Taiwan. Prof Kidd talk about the importance of the work that WONCA is doing in the indigenous and minority groups health issues .
Rural round-up: the proofing is in the practice
The phrase “The proof is in the pudding” became increasingly popular in the United States during the 1950s while its origins can be traced abroad and to as early the 14th century. Here in the US family physicians find themselves in times of unprecedented political, technological and social change in the midst of healthcare reform.
Rural Round-up: Being Rural - exploring sustainable solutions for remote and rural healthcare
Miles Mack, Chair-elect of the RCGP Scotland writes: Scotland is by no means unusual in having difficulties in recruiting to remote and rural posts. At present there are many isolated mainland and island practices that are unable to recruit and in many places the Health Boards have been forced to employ short term locums or even take over the running of practices to ensure patients are provided with the care they need
Next year's Lille Mental Health conference
WONCA is pleased to have endorsed the "Mental Health for all, connecting people and sharing experience" conference coming to Lille, in France, in April next year. The chair of WONCA's Working Party on Mental Health, Luis Gálvez invited colleagues to attend.
Gramado abstracts online
Did you miss the WONCA Rural Health conference in Gramado - abstracts are now available online. English and Portuguese
Rural Round-up : the John Macleod Oration 2014
Prof Roger Strasser, inaugural chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice delivered the 2014 John Macleod oration at Gramado. The oration is titled "Improving the Health of Rural People through Health Workforce Policy"
WONCA Environment Working Party - book launch
Family Doctors in The Field - environmental stories from across the globe, was launched on 4 July at the WONCA Europe conference in Lisbon, Portugal. It is a collection of inspiring stories from doctors from around the world who have combined working as a family doctor with some form of environmental work.
Rural round-up: Dr Jo Scott-Jones
Rural communities in the 21st Century need to build resilience and as health providers we can be powerful contributors to that work.
Rural Round-up : October 13
Much is often made of the poorer health status and standard of living in rural areas – this is true and desperately so in some places but with the provision of public health, good generalist health care and extra job opportunities, rural areas can be wonderful places to live
Rural Round-up - September 13
This month's rural round up is writen by Dr Jo Scott-Jones of New Zealand. He is the public relations member of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice
Rural round-up - August 13
The first of a monthly update from the WONCA Working Party on rural practice - keeping up the pace, our next triennium.
Rendez-Vous 2012 inspires many, advocates new ways of thinking
Rendez-Vous 2012 brought together the WONCA World Rural Health conference and The Network: Towards Unity for Health annual conference, as well as the next NOSM/Flinders conference on Community Engaged Medical Education, the Consortium for Longitudinal Integrated Curricula, and the Training for Health Equity Network. More than 850 delegates from nearly fifty countries and six continents attended.
Special Interest Group News
WONCA SIG on Policy Advocacy: “Planning the next biennium”
The WONCA SIG on Policy Advocacy is approaching the end of its first 2 years, and we are pleased to continue our webinar series. We are keen to get views on what our priorities should be for the next biennium following the Sydney conference.
WFDD2023: Message from the WONCA SIG on Policy Advocacy
On WFDD 2023, the WONCA Special Interest Group on Policy Advocacy wants to wish all our colleagues many thanks for all your hard work. Our SIG focuses on how best to get the voice of family doctors heard where it is needed worldwide – and we want to start by saying the best way to make a positive impression is to do what you do every day
Ageing Lines October
This is a space dedicated to caregivers and elderly patients, created with anonymous collaborations from the WONCA Special Interest Group on Ageing and Health. This section includes inspiring anecdotes for the simple purpose of adding value and quality to older patient’s lives.
WONCA Statement of Support - Refugee Crisis
The consequences of the military aggression in Ukraine and the resultant humanitarian crisis have profound implications for health, for healthcare workers in Ukraine and surrounding countries, and for their systems of delivering care.
Launch of ICOPE Implementation Pilot Programme
The Special Interest Group in Ageing and Health has contributed to the development of the World Health Organisation Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) approach over the last few years.
Ageing Lines: Stories from Caregivers and Elderly Patients
This is a space dedicated to caregivers and elderly patients, created with anonymous collaborations from the WONCA Special Interest Group on Ageing and Health. This section includes inspiring anecdotes for the simple purpose of adding value and quality to older patient’s lives.
SIG on Emergency Medicine annual report
The 2019-2020 year has seen some significant growth for the WONCA special interest group (SIG) on emergency medicine. We now number more than 200 participants from all regions of the world, with very active participation. Updates are sent to members every 2-3 months detailing the work of the SIG and strong positive feedback on our activities is regularly received.
SIG on Family Violence annual report
The Special Interest Group on Family Violence (SIG FV) continues to work, expanding our global connections to systematically support family doctors to address family violence in practice and policy. Our current and future activities are structured under six main strategies: Connect, Resource, Support, Educate, Communicate, Evaluate.
Adolescent and Young Adult Care webinar and report
The WONCA Special Interest Group (SIG) on Adolescent and Young Adult Care will hold a webinar in the WONCA COVID-19 webinar series on 8 November. Also find out more about the SIG in their annual report
SIG Family Violence annual report
Hagit Dascal-Weichhendler (left) and Kelsey Hegarty (right), co-chairs, Special Interest Group on Family Violence report: The Special Interest Group on Family Violence (SIG FV) has focused over the last two years on expanding our global connections to systematically support family doctors to address family violence in practice and policy.
SIG Workers' Health annual report
Dr Ezequiel Lopez, convenor, SIG on Workers’ Health reports: the SIG has achieved several things, but perhaps its greatest achievement has to do with being living proof that working together between major organizations is possible and fruitful.
SIG on Health Equity annual report
Dr Kim Yu, Convenor, SIG on Health Equity reports: The WONCA SIG on Health Equity was formed in 2014 and since that time has grown to include over 250 members representing trainees and practising family doctors from all regions of the world.
Launch of a Toolkit to help develop palliative care in primary care
The Toolkit was launched at the 2019 EAPC conference in Berlin. It was presented at a plenary lecture to the audience of about 3000 delegates who each received a copy. Professor Scott Murray from the University of Edinburgh presented an infographic about the Toolkit and a short video about how it might be used.
Grupo Prevención Cuaternaria - la herramienta para recopilar todos los materiales
Desde Iberoamérica hemos desarrollado una herramienta para recopilar todos los materiales que producimos en torno al concepto de Prevención Cuaternaria. Inicialmente, fue desarrollada para ser utilizada en una región. Sin embargo, creemos que es una herramienta versátil y sugerimos aplicarla y utilizarla en todas las regiones de WONCA.
SIG on Quaternary Prevention and Overmedicalization resource collection
In Iberoamerica we have developed a tool to collect all the materials we are producing on the Quaternary Prevention / Overmedicalization concepts. Initially, it was developed to be used in one region. However, we think it is a versatile tool and we suggest it could be applied and used in all WONCA Regions.
New WONCA SIGs announce their convenors
Two new WONCA Special Interest Groups have announced their convenors. Also the Spice Route Movement for Young Doctors in the South Asia region has a new chair. Find out more about them!
SIG Migrant Care, International Health and Travel Medicine report
During the year 2018 Guus Busser, Principal Lecturer at Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, gradually took over the chair of the SIG. As Maria van den Muijsenbergh, the former chair, and Guus are working at the same department their cooperation will continue. The SIG has steadily grown over the years with a sharp rise this last year.
SIG on Family Violence report
The Special Interest Group on Family Violence (SIG FV) has focused over the last two years on expanding our global connections to systematically support family doctors to address family violence in practice and policy. We have an Executive group consisting of the co-convenors, Hagit Dascal-Weichhendler and Kelsey Hegarty, the past co-chair Leo Pas and communications lead Raquel Gomez Bravo.
SIG Emergency Medicine report
The WONCA SIG on Emergency Medicine was formed in 2016 at the WONCA world conference at Rio de Janeiro. Since that time, we have grown to include over 100 members representing trainees and practising family doctors from all regions of the world. We have a strong work plan that is engaged in creating networks among members who are interested in acute and emergency medicine as a component of their family practice.
SIG on Workers' Health report
The Special Interest Group on Workers Health has achieved several things, but perhaps its greatest achievement has to do with being living proof that working together between major organizations is possible and fruitful.
SIG Family Violence consultancies
WONCA is pleased to work in partnership with the World Health Organisation to assist in implementing the WHO recommended guidelines on family violence. Drawing on a wealth of knowledge and experience, WONCA’s primary care experts from the Special Interest Group on Family Violence are available to provide a range of international consultancies.
SIG on Family Violence in Seoul
WONCA SIG on Family Violence co-conveners Kelsey Hegarty and Hagit Hagit Dascal-Weichhendler report on activities of the group held recently at the WONCA world conference in Seoul.
Statement On Older People’s Care, launched in Korea
“Family Doctors are core to the delivery of quality care for older people”:
Populations worldwide are ageing, and family doctors must be available and able to play a major role in care in their communities for people as they age. The family doctor should be the primary medical care provider for older people covering the full spectrum of older people’s care from health to end stage frailty, including for those in long term care facilities.
SIG on Health Equity annual report
Dr William Wong, convenor for the Special Interest Group (SIG) on Health Equity reports: oOver the last year, the group has been devoted to its core agenda of promoting Health Equity in primary care.
SIG on Family Violence annual report
Hagit Dascal-Weichhendler (Israel) and Kelsey Hegarty (Australia) co-convenors of the SIG on Family Violence report on activities for 2017-18 and look to the future - at the international level we are exploring the idea of offering consultancies to regional areas, to help strengthen knowledge, education and training.
SIG on Migrant Care, Int Health & Travel Medicine annual report
Prof Maria van den Muijsenbergh, convenor, SIG on Migrant Care, International Health and Travel Medicine writes: the SIG has steadily grown over the years and now consists of a group of members from 18 different nations in Australia, South- Africa, USA, South-America, Middle-East and Europe.
SIG on Emergency Medicine annual report
Victor Ng, SIG convenor writes: Below are a few examples of the great work of our WONCA SIG EM members in various WONCA regions. While this is far from an exhaustive list, it shows the commitment of our members to promote acute and emergency medicine to the rest of our family medicine colleagues. We appreciate and are thankful for their service to our discipline.
SIG on Ageing and Health Annual Report
The WONCA Special Interest Group on Ageing and Health has been reconvened in this 12 months. New convenor, Prof Dimity Pond (Australia) reports: The group has been busy producing a consensus statement about the importance of strengthening family medicine in the face of the increasing numbers of elderly people throughout the countries of the world.
SIG on Workers' Health annual report
We continue to recruit and welcome new members from all WONCA regions who wish to work together to strengthen the discipline of Family Medicine with a special interest on Workers Health. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Alma Declaration, Family Doctors must emphasize our passion for Primary Care,
SIG Point of Care Testing annual report
As of 24 April 2018, there are 113 members in the Special Interest Group (SIG) on Global Point-of- Care Testing (POCT), comprising 11 Executive Members and 102 General Members; these members represent 44 different countries and all seven WONCA regions.
SIG Family Violence workshop report.
During the 23rd WONCA Europe Conference held in Krakow in May 2018, the VdGM Family Violence Group presented a workshop in collaboration with the WONCA SIG on Family Violence, focusing on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and its impact on exposed children.
SIG Migrant Care new co-chair, Guus Busser
The WONCA Special Interest Group on Migrant Care, International Health & Travel Medicine has a new co-chair, Guus Busser, who joins existing chair, Maria van den Muijsenbergh. Who is Guus Busser?
Special Interest Group on Family Violence 'Call To Action'
The WONCA Special Interest Group on Family Violence calls on all Member Organizations in WONCA to address family violence policy, training and procedures as a matter of urgent priority in order to have their members supported and resourced to manage this common problem effectively and in an evidence-based manner.
SIG on Migrant Care 2018 activities
Prof Maria van den Muijsenbergh, chair of WONCA SIG on migrant care, international health and travel medicine and on behalf of Guus Busser, new co-chair of the SIG, gives a new year update.
SIG on Family Violence workshop at 3rd the VdGM Forum
During the third Vasco da Gama Movement (VdGM) Forum, held in Jerusalem between 14 and 16 September 2016, the VdGM Family Violence Group has presented a workshop in collaboration with the WONCA SIG-FV focusing on how cultural diversity can play a role on the disclosure and follow-up of gender violence.
SIG Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine Annual Report
Prof Rich Withnall (UK), Convener of the WONCA Special Interest Group on Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine provides the group's annual report fro 2016-2017 and reprots on a phenomenal growth in membership.
SIG Quaternary Prevention & Overmedicalisation annual report
In October 2016, WONCA World Council approved the creation of the Special Interest Group on Quaternary Prevention and Overmedicalization. Our Biennium Plan 2017-2018 was submitted on February 2017. Therefore, this report refers to a short period and we are working towards these objectives.
Family Violence- How to ignore it?
Ana Nunes Barata, WONCA executive's representative for Young Doctors is also interested in Family Violence. Here she writes for the WONCA SIG on Family Violence.
Point-of-care testing workshop held in Cairns.
A workshop titled ‘Point-of-Care Testing for Today’s Family Doctor: Innovations and Applications’ was presented on behalf of the WONCA Special Interest Group on Point-of-Care Testing at the 14th WONCA World Rural Health Conference in Cairns, Australia from 29th April – 2nd May 2017.
SIG on NCDs reports on Rio
The new WONCA Special Interest Group (SIG) on Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) has participated in the 2016 Conference in Rio de Janeiro with different activities. Convenor, Dr Domingo Orozco-Beltran reports.
Introducing Victor Ng and Miguel Pizzanelli - new SIG convenors
At the Rio conference several new WONCA Special Interest Groups (SIGs) were announced. This month we feature the convenors of two of these, namely Dr Victor Ng of Canada (SIG on Emergency Medicine) and Dr Miguel Pizzanelli of Uruguay (SIG on Quaternary Prevention and Overmedicalization).
New Special Interest Group on Genetics - Why?
A newly formed WONCA Specialist Interest Group on Genetics has been set up and we hope the topics and themes discussed in this short paper will interest WONCA members (and we look forward to having new members join!).
Special Interest Group (SIG) on Health Equity June news
Greetings from the WONCA Special Interest Group (SIG) on Health Equity. For this edition, we take a glance at GPs at the Deep End, which has and continues to strive for health equity in the most deprived areas of Scotland. In Global Focus, we take a look at studies from Guatemala, Sweden to India.
World Family Doctor Day 2016 celebrated worldwide
This year as always it seems World Family Doctor Day has grown in popularity. The theme of smoking cessation was taken up with enthusiasm as evidenced by some of the posters produced. Our feature is on the videos produced by WONCA’s young doctors’ movements
SIG Health Equity New Year news
Hello again, from the WONCA Special Interest Group (SIG) on Health Equity. The health equity group is still bustling with activity writes convenor William Wong.
WONCA SIG on Health Equity September news
WONCA's new SIG on Health Equity reports: Welcome to the WONCA Special Interest Group on Health Equity news. In this edition we would like to share with you our excitement towards the upcoming WONCA Europe conference where we have been invited to host a Health Equity workshop. In addition to this, our convener shares with us some interesting and related experiences this summer.
SIG on Conflict & Catastrophe Medicine to meet in Istanbul
The WONCA Special Interest Group on Conflict & Catastrophe Medicine (WONCA SIG C&CM ) provides a forum through which WONCA can lend its support to improving the quality of care of peoples of the world when they face some of life’s greatest challenges.
General membership is open to all GP/FMDs. A workshop will be held during the WONCA Europe Conference in Istanbul (22-25 October 2015).
Special Interest Group on Health Equity May update
One year since the Newsletter for the WONCA SIG on Health Equity has started; it has been great to see increasing interest to the group, which is free for anyone of all healthcare professions to join.
Special Interest Group on Conflict & Catastrophe comment on Nepal
As recently as January 2015, WONCA Executive approved the formation of a new WONCA Special Interest Group on Conflict & Catastrophe Medicine. Convenor, Rich Withnall, has shared this message about the Nepal disaster and invited interested family doctors to join the new group.
WONCA Special Interest Group on Family Violence update
The WONCA Special Interest Group on Family Violence launches an invitation to WONCA members, all colleges and academies to join its reflection on effective implementation on how to deal with family violence in primary health care.
Special Interest Group: Non-communicable diseases
A new WONCA Special Interest Group on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) was approved by the WONCA Executive in July 2013 and serves as a focus for the development of NCDs issues for Wonca worldwide.
Point-of-care testing workshop at WONCA Asia Pacific regional conference
A workshop titled ‘How to Set Up and Manage Point-of-Care Testing in Your Family Practice’ was presented by Prof Mark Shephard and Lara Motta on behalf of the WONCA Special Interest Group on Global Point-of-Care Testing at the recent WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Kuching, Malaysia.
WONCA SIG on complexity news
The WONCA Special Interest Group on complexity will run a workshop in Lisbon, at the WONCA Europe conference in July, and is involved in organising a conference being held in November in the US.
Regional News
SOCHIMEF organized the XXIV Chilean Congress of Family Medicine
From Thursday, November 23, to Saturday, November 25, the Chilean Society of Family Medicine (Sochimef) held the XXIV Chilean Congress of Family Medicine, with over 50 speakers, at the Aula Magna of the University of La Frontera in Temuco, Region of La Araucanía.
8th WONCA Africa Region Conference: Welcome Message
Kenya Association of family Physicians welcome’s you to the 8th WONCA Africa Region Conference, themed "Drumming for Change in Africa: Building resilient Primary Health Care systems with a focus on innovations and sustainability."
Cultural Impact: lifestyle and disease management
On 29th July, Friday, WONCA Working Party on Women and Family Medicine (WWPWFM)in association with The Spice Route India Movement (SAR) organized a webinar to discuss Influence of cultural practices on lifestyle and disease management.
WONCA Europe 2023 Opening Event
WONCA President, Dr Anna Stavdal dedicated a few words to family doctors around the world during the opening ceremony of WONCA Europe 2023 in Brussels, Belgium.
South Asian Women as Leaders
Around the globe women are breaking barriers in a number of fields including medicine, education, science & technology, sports and leadership roles. The South Asia region is no different, today we see women participation and representation in a vast number of fields
Advancing South Asian Family Medicine
Advancing South Asian Family Medicine towards a new paradigm: Highlighting 3 exemplars that focus on Community Participation, Partnership with Government, and closer Collaboration with Academia
WONCA Iberoamericana CIMF addresses crisis in Peru and the region
We deeply regret the loss of human lives in the context of social mobilizations in various regions of Peru since December 2022 and express our concern about the violence increase. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the communities and families of the deceased.
Building the foundation for research, policy, and advocacy to strengthen Family Medicine in the South Asia: Notes from the Field
South Asia, constituting India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Afghanistan represents the most populous region in the world. Unfortunately, despite obvious need, the field of primary care and family medicine in this region is underdeveloped and at a nascent stage
WFPHA: 17th World Congress on Public Health
Over 3,000 public health professionals and researchers, policymakers, and students will convene in Rome, Italy, from 2 to 6 May 2023 for the 17th World Congress on Public Health
WONCA Europe Conference - London 2022
The WONCA 2022 takes place from 28 June to 1 July 2022. Register now, be a part of the WONCA 2022 Conference and meet collegues from all over Europe.
WONCA Africa Editorials
WONCA Africa President, Professor Shabir Moosa, writes these editorials to share a basic understanding of WONCA Africa, some plans and achievements, and the growing relationship with World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO).
Family Medicine in Medical Schools in the EMR
The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), in collaboration with the WONCA East Mediterranean Region (EMR) and the WONCA Working Party on Education conducted a survey of the medical schools in the EMR region.
Virtual AfroPHC Workshop
Please join us for the Virtual AfroPHC Workshop to be held 4-7pm over three days 9th-11th September 2020. The theme is “Building Teamwork for PHC in Africa”. It is intended to be a truly interactive African experience that is free and open to anyone interested in building PHC in Africa. Please see more details and register for the AfroPHC Virtual Workshop.
Online Book: Family Practice in the EMR
The WONCA and WHO joint book on family practice is available now on the following WHO website and the Arabic version will be published in late August: Family Practice in the Eastern Mediterranean Region- Universal Health Coverage and Quality Primary Care.
WONCA Asia Pacific Roundtables: NCDs and Pain Management
Prof Meng-Chih Lee, President, WONCA APR and Dr Brian Chang, Honorary Secretary, WONCA APR gathered other APR leaders in Singapore December 4-6, 2019. Reducing premature death due to non-communicable disease and addressing unnecessary suffering from pain require commitment, creativity and community.
South Asia Statement of Solidarity on COVID-19 Pandemic
In the moment of a great public health crisis, something which impacts all human beings on the earth, we the family physicians of South Asia are together in solidarity with all our professional colleagues and people. We salute all healthcare workers who have stood to this call of duty. There is no greater service than the service of humanity. May we all triumph together for ourselves, our families, our people, our countries and our world.
Professor Meng-Chih Lee's Bursary for WONCA Auckland applications
We are pleased to announce a call for applications for the Prof Meng-Chih Lee's Asia Pacific Region Presidential Bursary to financially support two family physicians registered to attend the WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2020, in Auckland, New Zealand
EGPRN involved in Frailty and Falls project
The European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN), a network of WONCA Europe, is proud to announce its involvement in an ERASMUS+ (is the European Commission programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe) project on innovative training for technology-based frailty and falls management with the project “Fall-in-Age”
Do not miss the 25th WONCA Europe Conference in Berlin - part 3
The 25th WONCA Europe Conference in Berlin will discuss hot topics about the future of our profession and evidence how best to care for our patients and societies not only with doctors from Europe but also with other professions cooperating with us in our practices, in our departments and in the community from all over the world.
Do not miss the 25th WONCA Europe Conference in Berlin - part 2
The 25th WONCA Europe Conference in Berlin will discuss hot topics about the future of our profession and evidence how best to care for our patients and societies not only with doctors from Europe but also with other professions cooperating with us in our practices, in our departments and in the community from all over the world.
EGPRN meets in Vigo
The 89th EGPRN meeting took place in Vigo, Spain, between the 17th and the 20th October 2019. Find out more here.
WONCA Africa and WHO AFRO hold successful meeting
A two-day consultative meeting was held at the WHO AFRO offices in Congo Brazaville on the 13-14 August 2019. This meeting came as a result of the active participation of Dr Prosper Tumussime at the WONCA Africa conference in June 2019, in Kampala, Uganda. The need for WONCA Africa and WHO AFRO to work together to strengthen health systems in African countries became apparent.
WONCA Asia Pacific 2020 – last call for abstracts
With equity at the heart of the conference, WONCA 2020 promises to deliver an inspiring and diverse programme of plenary sessions, panel discussions, skills workshops and debates which explore the theme of: Family Medicine - leading the way towards an advanced world of equity, quality and compassion.
PHC Measurement and Improvement Initiative of the WHO EMRO
The first consultation meeting of the Primary Health Care Measurement and Improvement Initiative of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region was held in Cairo WHO EMRO regional office. It was great to see WONCA EMR being given equal billing on this initiative with WHO EMRO, UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (which is funding this initiative).
EGPRN meets in Tampere
The 88th European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN) meeting was held in Tampere, Finland from 9-12 May 2019. The topic of the meeting was "Research on Multimorbidity in Primary Care".
WONCA Asia Pacific conference 2020 - call for abstracts
You are invited to submit abstracts and proposals for oral and poster presentations and for workshops that are in keeping with the themes of this, the WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2020, which is coming to Auckland, New Zealand in April 2020.
Klaus von Pressentin, Montegut Scholar, on WONCA Africa conference
Klaus B von Pressentin reports on his attendance as the Montegut Scholar, at the WONCA Africa 2019 conference, in Kampala, Uganda, from June 4-8, 2019. Klaus is from Mossel Bay sub-district, South Africa. The Montegut Global Scholars Program is funded by the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation (ABFM-F).
Report on Iberoamericana-CIMF congress May 2019
WONCA Iberoamericana CIMF, which brings together twenty countries including Spain and Portugal, held its sixth Congress of Family and Community Medicine of Ibero-America, in Tijuana, in May. More than 1,500 family doctors and health professionals from all areas of Ibero-America met in Tijuana, Mexico.
Successful WONCA APR 2019 in Kyoto, Japan
WONCA APR 2019 was held from May 15-18, 2019 at Kyoto International Conference Center, hosted by the Japan Primary Care Association. Total number of participants was 1643, from 46 countries, from all over the world.
WONCA Europe coming soon
All the latest information for those coming to WONCA Europe's conference in Bratislava in June. Practice visits, skills labs, walking workshop.
WONCA Asia Pacific conference –last announcement
It’s less than two months until the WONCA Asia Pacific region (APR) conference, in Kyoto. We are now in the full swing of final preparations. More than 500 papers have been submitted and participants from more than 40 countries have already registered.
Why you should join us at WONCA APR in Kyoto (latest news)
WONCA Asia Pacific region (APR) conference in Kyoto will provide the chance to observe Japanese medical clinics. An impressive list of speakers are assembled for our keynote and plenary sessions. Registration deadline for regular registration is March 11, 2019 (Japan Time).
WONCA EMR Beirut workshops announced.
Attend an excellent line up of workshops and enhance your experience at WONCA EMR 2019. These workshops have been carefully chosen to cover topics such as Universal Health Care, Primary Health Care, Health Policies, Refugee Health Care, Mental Health, Smoking Cessation and other hot topics.
WONCA EMR Beirut Scientific Program Announced
The sixth regional WONCA East Mediterranean region conference will be held from March 21- 23, 2019 in the Phoenicia Hotel, Beirut Lebanon. It will be hosted by the Lebanese Society of Family Medicine. The three day congress will highlight the latest updates relating to the practice of family medicine via a range of methods. See more about the program here.
Interview with Dr Peter Makara : Slovak Republic
Dr Peter Makara is Host Organizing Committee Chair for the WONCA Europe conference coming to the Slovak Republic in June 2019. He is President of the Slovak Society of General Practice. Here he is interviewed about the situation in his country.
WONCA EMR conference in Beirut in March
The sixth regional WONCA East Mediterranean region conference will be held from March 21- 23, 2019 in the Phoenicia Hotel, Beirut Lebanon. It will be hosted by the Lebanese Society of Family Medicine.
WONCA Europe Conference - call for abstracts extended
Call for abstracts has been extended but still only few days left to submit and be part of the WONCA Europe 2019 Conference scientific programme. Don't miss this opportunity! Abstract Submission Deadline: February 7, 2019
Why you should join us at WONCA APR in Kyoto (continued)
Prof Nobu Ban writes: The venue of the WONCA Asia Pacific region conference in 2019 is Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto is most well known in Japanese history as being the former Imperial capital of Japan, for more than one thousand years, as well as a major part of the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area. Kyoto attracts many people due to its natural beauty and cultural heritage.
WONCA Europe 2019- Dr Jana Bendová answers questions
Dr Jana Bendová, member of the Scientific Committee for the coming WONCA Europe conference in Bratislava, answers questions about general practice in the Slovak Republic. She is a GP and chief expert for general medicine at the Ministry of Health.
WONCA Europe Conference- latest news about Bratislava
We are delighted to invite you to the 24th WONCA Europe Conference that will be held in Bratislava, Slovakia on June 26 - 29, 2019. Abstract Submission Deadline: January 10, 2019. early bird registration ends December 31, 2018.
Why you should join us at WONCA APR in Kyoto, Japan, in 2019
Prof Nobutaro Ban provides more information about the WONCA Asia Pacific region conference coming to Kyoto in May 2019. This includes topics for presentations and discussion. Registration is open as are calls for abstracts for workshops presentations etc.
WONCA Africa comes to Uganda in June 2019
Read the 2019 WONCA Africa region conference welcome message from new WONCA Africa president Shabir Moosa and find out all conference details. Early Bird registration closes December 31 as does abstract submission.
WONCA Kyoto 2019 - important dates
This is the second announcement in WONCA News about the WONCA Asia Pacific region conference coming in 2019 to Kyoto, Japan. The conference will be held from May 15-18, 2019 and this item lists important dates for registration and abstracts.
WONCA in Kyoto, Japan, in 2019
This is the first announcement in WONCA News about the WONCA Asia Pacific region conference coming in 2019 to Kyoto, Japan. The conference will be held from May 15-18, 2019
Meeting with WHO EMRO Regional Director
WHO EMRO Regional Director, His Excellency Dr Ahmad Almandari visited Jordan recently. During his short stay, a WONCA East Mediterranean region (EMR) delegation comprised of Dr Mohammed Tarawneh, WONCA EMR president; Dr Mohamed Rasoul Tarawneh, Jordanian Society of Family Medicine president; and Dr Oraib Alsmadi, WONCA EMR treasurer; (all from Jordan) were able to arrange a meeting
Interview with Jacqueline Ponzo
Dr Jacqueline Ponzo, president-elect of WONCA Iberoamericana- CIMF Region was recently interviewed in Barcelona while attending the semFYC (Spanish Society of Family Medicine) #BCNsemFYC Conference. This is a short version of the interview.
Louis Ferrant - Europe 5 Star Doctor
Prof Louis Ferrant, of Belgium, is WONCA Europe’s 5 Star Doctor for 2018. We congratulate Louis on this achievement. ouis’ nomination demonstrates that meets the criteria for a 5 Star Doctor (care provider, communicator, community leader, decision maker, team member) as follows..
WONCA Europe: Future Plan
Driven by the Future Plan for WONCA Europe 2016-2019 (our strategic document for the triennium with the three main goals to build identity, increase visibility and exert influence), the activities of our organisation were reviewed by the WONCA Europe Council in Krakow.
Towards highly trained specialists in General Practice/Family Medicine
WONCA Europe and its teaching organization EURACT have produced several important documents on a common definition and description of the GP/FM specialty. These documents support the recognition of GP/FM and improvement in the quality of specialty training schemes in addition they promote international collaborations.
WONCA Europe Council outcomes
Dr Anna Stavdal, WONCA Europe president reports on recent WONCA Europe Council endorsements:- two equity statements, the Overdiagnosis /Overtreatment position paper, and papers on Training Requirements for GP/FM, as well as Quality in family medicine.
The Spice Route Sri Lanka CPD programme
A CPD programme was organized by the Spice Route Movement (Movement for Young Doctors) of Sri Lanka on February 17, 2018. The evening was attended by a large gathering of enthusiastic general practitioners, both young and young at heart, who were intrigued by the topics.
Jordan Minister of Health meeting with WONCA EMR delegation
WONCA East Mediterranean Region (EMR) has planned to meet different ministers of health in our region in order to promote and seek more support to the family medicine specialty. As the first step, delegates from WONCA EMR had a fruitful meeting with His Excellency Prof Mahmoud Al-Sheyyab, the Jordanian Minister of Health
North America 5 Star Doctor award presented
James and Leslie Rourke are the recipients of the WONCA North America Region 5 Star Doctor Award 2017 and Dr Wilson took the opportunity of visiting their province of Newfoundland, to present the award. A joint nomination for the WONCA North America 5-Star Doctor may be unconventional.
South Asia region Montegut Scholar Report - Dr Veena Kumari
Dr Veena Kumari was a 2017 Montegut Scholarship winner for the WONCA South Asia Region. She has recently taken up a new job as an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine in Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. Dr Kumari attended the South Asia region conference in Nepal from 24-26 November 2017 as well as The Spice Route pre conference. Here she reports on her experience.
semFYC interview Dr Anna Stavdal
Anna Stavdal of Norway, President of WONCA Europe, is interviewed by Pere Vilanova of the Spanish Society of Family Medicine, semFYC. Topics include Family medicine in Norway and Europe and the recent WONCA Europe statements on refugees and planetary health. This is an edited English version of that interview.
Catching up with the Dragon!
What’s new about the 23rd WONCA Europe Conference coming to Krakow in May? We have new Key Note Speakers of the Conference: Dr Anna Stavdal - President of WONCA Europe, Dr Przemysław Guła, Prof Sara Willems. Early bird registration ends 28 February.
South Asia region Montegut Scholar Report - Dr Sanam Shah
Dr Sanam Shah of Pakistan was awarded the Montegut Scholarship for the South Asia region. She is the national secretary, Pakistan for the WONCA Spice Route Young Doctors’ Movement and attended the recent South Asia region conference in Nepal.
Asia Pacific region Montegut Scholar, Dr Mya Win Hnit
Dr Mya Win Hnit, of Myanmar, was selected as a Montegut scholarship winner to attend 2017 WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference, which was recently held on November 1‐4 in Pattaya, Thailand. He reports on his activities and proposed actions.
Joint award to James & Leslie Rourke for North America 5-Star Doctor
Drs Leslie and James Rourke are announced as co-WONCA Five Star Doctors for the region of North America. A joint award for the WONCA North America 5-Star Doctor may be unconventional, however, in addition to being partners in marriage, James and Leslie Rourke have been practice partners throughout their careers. Both James and Leslie Rourke exemplify the five pillars of the WONCA Five Star Doctor.
WONCA Europe Kraków - we hear from Adam Windak
Early bird registration closes December 31, 2017 and abstracts are open only until December 17, for WONCA Europe Kraków. Prof Adam Windak, Conference Scientific Committee chair, speaks to the WONCA editor about this conference and comparisons to the previous excellent one he help organise in Warsaw in 2011.
Prof Tai-Yuan Chiu - WONCA Asia Pacific 5-Star Doctor
The 2017 Five-Star Doctor Award in the WONCA Asia Pacific Region is awarded to Prof Tai-Yuan Chiu of Taiwan. Congratulations to Prof Chiu for his great achievements in advancing family medicine and primary health care.
WONCA Asia Pacific Statements at October WHO Regional Committee
The Sixty-Eighth Session of the Regional Office for the WHO Western Pacific (WPRO) 68th Regional Committee was held in Brisbane, Australia 9–13 October 2017. WONCA was repesented by WONCA Executive member Dr Karen Flegg. WONCA submitted four written statements.
WONCA EMR meets WHO EMRO, in Cairo, in September
WONCA's East Mediterranean region (EMR) delegate conducted a meeting with WHO EMRO Regional Director and his team in Cairo, Egypt.The participants agreed about the importance of collaborative work among WHO and WONCA to reorient towards Universal Health Care, and bring family medicine as a vehicle, conducting national workshops will help countries to develop national action plans to scale up family practice working in two parallel paths - the fast track and the long term plans taking into consideration, approaching universities and higher education ministries.
WONCA Europe statements at WHO Regional Committee
The 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe was held in Budapest on 10th - 14th September 2017.
WONCA Europe has released a statement on Family Medicine, focusing on the educational needs (both undergraduate and postgraduate) and the policies for retaining and, when necessary, supporting the migration and emigration of family doctors. The statement was delivered by Dr Anna Stavdal, President of WONCA Europe.
WONCA Rural Africa (WoRA) launched
The launching of WONCA Rural Africa (WoRA) took place as scheduled during the 5th Joint WONCA Africa conference / South Africa Academy of Family Physicians in Pretoria, South Africa, on Friday 18th August 2017.
WONCA North America Annual Report
Member organizations of the North American region of WONCA remained strong and active in the past year. All held successful and well-attended meetings in 2017.
WONCA SAR Nepal conference deadlines approach
Greetings from the Himalayan Kingdom. After our devastating earthquake we are trying our best to rebuild ourselves. We would like to thank our well wishers and assure them that in spite of the recent past we now hosting a WONCA South Asia region conference in Kathmandu, on November 25 and 26, 2017.
WONCA Europe Prague Statement
WONCA Europe developed and endorsed the following statement at their recent Prague Conference : Growing together in diversity for the benefit of all Europeans
WONCA signs MOU with IPCRG
At the recent WONCA Europe conference in Prague, WONCA President, Professor Amanda Howe, signed a Memorandum of Understanding jointly with Dr Jaime Correia de Sousa, President of the International Primary Care Respiratory Group.
EGPRN launches international web-based course on PHC research
The European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN) officially launched the International Web-based Course on Research in Primary Health Care at the WONCA Europe Conference in Prague. The course is suitable for European family doctors and other healthcare professionals who are interested in research.
WONCA Europe Prague 2017 in photos
This past week WONCA Europe held its annual conference in Prague. A photographic report is attached including the three minute conference video
Rural Round-up: WONCA Africa rural group endorsed
The WONCA Rural Africa group (WoRA) was introduced at the 14th WONCA Rural Assembly in Cairns Australia and was unanimously accepted. WoRA will be launched on the 18 August 2017 during the 5th WONCA Africa region conference in Pretoria and in India during 15th Rural WONCA conference 2018.
WONCA Europe Prague conference coming soon
We are delighted to invite you to the 22nd WONCA Europe Conference that will be held in Prague, Czech Republic from June 28 to July 1, 2017. Regular registration deadline; practice visits; programme details and more.
Al Razi young doctors' workshop 2017
On the sidelines of the WONCA EMR conference that took place on 2nd-4th of March 2017 in Abu-Dhabi, UAE, the Al Razi Young Doctors’ Movement had the honor to present, on the second day, a workshop titled “Social Media and Physicians: A good pair but guidelines for use needed”.
WONCA Africa Montegut Scholar reports on Rio
In 2016 the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation (ABFM-F) awarded Dr Kenneth Yakubu the 2016 Montegut Scholarship for Africa. This enabled Kenneth to attend the WONCA World conference in Rio. Kenneth writes “Through the Montegut Scholarship award for Africa, I was offered the opportunity to be part of an enriching experience, one I will remember for a very long while. Indeed, I feel blessed. Thank you, ABFM-F”. Kenneth has written an excellent report.
EJGP now open access
Some readers will have noticed that since 1 January of this year, the European Journal of General Practice has ‘open access’ for all its readers. ‘Open access’ means that you not only can download the abstract but also the full-text version of all articles published in this journal.
WONCA EMR congress 2017 - the latest
The WONCA EMR congress comes to Abu Dhabi from 2-4 March 2017. Standard registration closes soon and speakers have now been announced to include a number of current and past WONCA leaders.
WONCA EMR conference in Abu Dhabi - March 2-4
As the President of WONCA EMR Organization, it gives me great pleasure and honor to invite you to the 4th WONCA East Mediterranean Region Family Medicine Congress which will be held from 2-4 March 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Vasco da Gama presidential handover - Reflections
Peter Sloane writes - Having had the huge privilege to serve as President of the Vasco da Gama Movement for two and a half years, it gives me a deep sense of pride to look back on what was an extremely challenging and exciting period, but ultimately one which proved to be tremendously rewarding, engaging, stimulating and invigorating. A time I will never forget.
WONCA Europe Prague 2017 - Abstracts deadline closing
WONCA Europe's conference will be held in Prague from June 28 to July 1, 2017. Due to a high level of interest from participants, we are pleased to announce that the abstract submission deadline has been extended to January 15, 2017.
Job Metsemakers: From Prague 2013 to Rio 2016 to …
Job Metsemakers reflects: It was not a surprise that I left Prague in 2013 as President of WONCA Europe. But I also left Prague as an Executive Board member of WONCA World, and as Chair of the WONCA Membership Committee. With Rio fast approaching it is a good opportunity to reflect on my three and a half years as a WONCA Europe President.
Incoming Asia Pacific Region President: Prof Meng-Chih Lee
In his new capacity as the President for WONCA Asia Pacific Region, Prof Meng-Chih Lee, coupled with his Asia Pacific council members and World WONCA, would like to strengthen Rajakumar Movement, continue to support Taiwan Family Medicine Research Award, try to invite the non-member countries in Asia Pacific region to join in WONCA , and to maintain good partnership with WHO Western Pacific Region.
WHO EMRO video on family practice
WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office has produced an advocacy video on family practice. Prof Michael Kidd, WONCA President, was invited to provide some words from WONCA for inclusion in the video
South Asia region president visits Maldives
Dr Garth Manning and I, were invited to visit Maldives from 20th to 22nd August 2016 by Dr Ali Shareef, the Maldives’ first Dirct Member of WONCA and also its first GP trainee
EMR conference coming in March 2017.
As the President of WONCA East Mediterranean Region, it gives me great pleasure and honor to invite you to Fourth WONCA East Mediterranean Region Family Medicine Congress which will be held during 2-4 March 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
WONCA Europe 2017 call for abstracts
The Czech Society of General Practice will be the host organization for the 22nd WONCA Europe Conference, which will be held in Prague from 28th June to 1st July 2017, and they have informed us that abstract submission is now open.
WONCA Africa news
From Shabir Moosa, Secretary, on behalf of the WONCA Africa Executive Committee brief news from WONCA Africa including next year's conference dates.
WONCA Europe 2016 report - keynotes online
Did you realise that we all just had a fantastic conference in Copenhagen? That is what we hear.
We hope that you all had enjoyable stays in Denmark and Copenhagen – and hopefully many of you got the opportunity to travel to some of the other Nordic countries as well.
We want to thank you for the brilliant contributions you all made. Whether it was scientific, clinical or as an interested clinician, everyone made the WONCA Europe Conference 2016 a memorable conference.
WONCA North America Region report 2015-16
Ruth Wilson, region president reports: member organizations of the North American region of WONCA remained strong and active in the past year. All held successful and well-attended meetings in 2015.
Legacy of WONCA Europe 2016 conference
The legacy of the WONCA Europe 2016 conference is a result of collaboration between the Host Organizing Committee, WONCA Europe Council and WONCA Europe Executive board. European Family Doctors call for Joint Action with Heads and Hearts!
Report from EURACT -a visit to Ukraine
Dr Jo Buchanan, president of EURACT reports - a visit to Ukraine. Following the council meeting in Budapest meeting I travelled to Uzghorod in the Ukraine with Pavlo Kolesnyk, at the invitation of Professor Ivan Chopey where I spoke at a national Conference of Family Doctors on the development of Family medicine in Europe.
WONCA Europe Copenhagen program
We are delighted to present the first edition of the ”programme at a glance” for WONCA Europe 2016.
We received a record-large number of session proposals and abstracts. Based on external reviews and a thorough assessment by the energetic Scientific Committee, we are proud of the result.
Al Razi young doctors' workshop
On the first day of the WONCA EMR conference in Dubai, the Al Razi Young Doctors’ Movement was privileged to present their first workshop in a regional conference
Launch of family medicine training in Malawi
On 25 February 2016, an exciting event occurred in Malawi, the launch of postgraduate family medicine training. Malawi is a landlocked country of about 17 million people in Southern Africa, one of the least developed nations in the world, but known as the warm heart of Africa.
Development of Family Medicine in Uganda
Family Medicine is rapidly evolving in Africa. By the year 2000, family medicine was well known only in South Africa and Nigeria. However by 2016, efforts to promote the discipline were underway in almost all African countries. This article summarises developments in Uganda.
Visit us in Copenhagen 15 - 18 June 2016
Many GPs are already looking very much forward to the WONCA Europe Conference in June 2016 in Copenhagen. We have already received a promisingly high number of abstract submissions and we hope you are considering submitting your abstract to the congress
WONCA EMR Submit your abstract
The scientific committee of 3rd WONCA East Mediterranean Region Family Medicine Congress 2016 invites presenters worldwide to submit abstracts to be presented as an oral or poster presentation
WONCA Europe feature- Istanbul conference, awards and more
WONCA Europe region held its annual conference in Istanbul during October and as a result WONCA News for November sees a focus on WONCA Europe. Harris Lygidakis, WONCA Europe Hon Secretary, reports on the conference. "Returning from the WONCA Europe conference in Istanbul, we look back at an amazing organizational feat, led by Okay Basak, Dilek Guldal, Mehmet Ungan and Resat Dabak, which saw the participation of more than 3,600 colleagues, more than 1,000 of whom being junior doctors or trainees."
WONCA EMR workshop in Egypt
WONCA EMR in collaboration with Egyptian FM Association conducted a workshop in Cairo on 3rd September 2015
Visit us in Copenhagen 15 - 18 June 2016
"Family Doctors with heads and hearts". This is the thought-provoking theme of our 2016 WONCA Europe Conference being held in Copenhagen next June. How do we combine our scientific knowledge with the tender, loving care that is a distinguishing feature of our work as family doctors
Happy Audit ll Sudamérica
El objetivo es determinar los factores que influyen en la decisión de prescribir antibióticos en pacientes con sospecha de infección del tracto respiratorio en Suramérica.
South American Happy Audit ll
The aim of Happy Audit ll is to determine the factors associated with prescription of antibiotics in patients with suspected respiratory tract infection I South-America. This is the second report on progress.
Montegut scholar report for WONCA/EMR 2015 conference
Nagwa Nashat Hegazy was a Montegut Scholar attending the recent WONCA East Mediterranean region congress was held from 30 April to 2 May 2015 in Dubai city in the UAE. This edited report written by Nagwa is reproduced with the permission of the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation (ABFM-F) who provide the scholarship.
Waynakay Movement - April 2015
Young Family Medicine doctors left their mark at the 4th Iberoamerican Conference of Family and Community Medicine... The outcomes of this event were elaborated in the Waynakay Declaration.
Movimiento Waynakay - Abril de 2015
Con gran entusiasmo y dinamismo se llevo a cabo la participación de los jóvenes médicos familiares en el marco del 4º Congreso Iberoamericano de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria ... durante este espacio, se elaboró colectivamente la Declaración de Waynakay;
Speakers for WONCA Europe in Istanbul in October
At our twentieth conference, WONCA Europe invites you to look into the future from the perspective of the past. - find out more about the speakers already lined up. At our twentieth conference, WONCA Europe invites you to look into the future from the perspective of the past.
Come to Istanbul to share what you think about family physicians, patients, diseases, health systems and WONCA with your colleagues from the speaker's corner.
Proud to call myself a Vasco da Gamian.
Dr Deirdre Kelly an Irish general pracittioner in training writes on why she's proud to call herself a Vasco da Gamian after attending the recent forum in Dublin.
WONCA Africa welcomes you to Ghana, May 2015
Dr Henry Lawson, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the Wonca Africa Conference in Accra, Ghana 6-9 May 2015 and future Wonca Africa President, urges you to join us in Ghana.
News from North America region
Fall is a busy time for the North American Region of WONCA. The American Academy of Family Medicine held its Congress and Assembly in October and in November the College of Family Physicians of Canada held its board meeting, Scientific Assembly, and Besrour Conference in Quebec City.
WONCA EMR president at WHO regional committee
WONCA East Mediterranean Region president, Dr Mohammed Tarawneh, was invited to participate in the 61st session of the WHO regional committee for the WHO East Mediterranean region (EMRO) which was held in Tunis from 19-22 October 2014.
WONCA EMR meeting with Kuwait Society of Family Practice
In Kuwait, WONCA leaders, Dr Mohammed Tarawneh, WONCA East Mediterranean region president and Prof Nabil Kurashi, Immediate past WONCA East Mediterranean region president, had an official meeting with the Kuwait Society of Family Practice (KSFP) section of the Kuwait Medical Association (KMA).
WONCA at the WHO South Asia regional committee
Health Organization's (WHO) Regional committee for South East Asia (SEAR) was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from September 9-12, 2014. WONCA was represented by Professor Pratap Narayan Prasad, WONCA South Asia region (SAR) president.
EMR Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases in Primary Health Care
WONCA EMR president, Dr Mohammed Tarawneh, and Dr Oraib Alsmadi, WONCA EMR honorary treasurer, were invited as temporary advisors to attend the WHO EMR meeting on strengthening the integration and management of noncommunicable diseases in primary health care
The Spice Route Movement report on Chennai 2014
Over 600 delegates attended the magnificent WONCA SAR 2014 conference, in, Chennai, during August. The Spice Route movement for young family doctors/ GPs held numerous activities. Read their report here.
A virtual dialogue on the training of specialists in family medicine
A group of family doctors had the opportunity to participate, in a virtual dialogue on the training of specialists in Family Medicine under universal coverage “Diálogo Virtual sobre la formación de especialistas en Medicina Familiar en el marco de la Cobertura Universal de Salud”. This event was promoted by PAHO.
Ramnik and Jyoti Parekh create a scholarship for young doctors
Drs Ramnik and Jyoti Parekh have created a scholarship for young family medicine doctors in the South Asia region towards supporting their participation in regional exchanges, global exchange program FM360 and WONCA conferences. Find out more about Ramnik and Jyoti and the scholarship.
WONCA Europe awards
At the recent WONCA Europe conference in Lisbon various awards were presented including the Five Star doctor award, the Montegut Scholarship and the Vasco da Gama awards.
Rural health clinic visits in Kuching, Malaysia
At the recent WONCA Asia Pacific region conference, visits to rural health clinics were offered by the Host Organising Committee. The WONCA Editor joined another Australian colleague and four colleagues from Japan on one of the visit programs.
South Asian Primary Care Research Network report
The research methodology workshop was organized by South Asian Primary Care Research Network (SAPCRN) and Department of Family Medicine University of Health Sciences Lahore on February 20-21, 2014. The theme of the conference was Promoting Primary Care Research through Family Doctors.
WONCA Europe coming to Lisbon next month
WONCA Europe holds its conference in Lisbon from July 2-5. FInd out about HOC president João Sequeira Carlos' views and read the latest interviews with guest speakers.
African young family doctors' movement
AfriWon Renaissance, the youth movement of the WONCA Africa Region was officially inaugurated on the 27th June, 2013 during the WONCA 20th World Conference in Prague Czech Republic.
South Asia Research Methodology Workshop
The first National Conference on Family Medicine and Primary Care was organised by Academy of Family Physicians of India in collaboration with The Spice Route Movement and supported by WONCA. The Research Methodology workshop held during the conference was organised by the South Asia Primary Care Research Network.
South Asia research conference a big success
The International Research Methodology Conference for Primary Care Physicians was held on January 19–20, 2013. The theme of the conference was Strengthening Primary Care Research through Family Doctors. This event was two days’ of hands-on workshop covering all the important topics of research methodology.
AAFP members discuss international issues in Philadelphia
The AAFP International Networking Meeting was one of the special events during the AAFP Scientific Assembly, in Philadelphia. It was organized by the International Activities Office to provide AAFP members interested in global health with an extra opportunity to share, network and develop connections that potentially would lead to opportunities for individual physicians, educators or institutions to collaborate.
African family doctors’ online forum
African family doctors now have their own discussion area in the WONCA discussion forum. With 34 discussion threads posted in only three weeks by Dr Shabir Moosa, chair of the WONCA Africa Communications Sub-Committee - there is something to interest everyone.
An interview with Professor Job FM Metsemakers - Secretary of WONCA Europe
Professor Job FM Metsemakers generously agreed to be interviewed by the WONCA editor, in Vienna, in July 2012. He has been secretary of WONCA Europe for five years. This interview ended with the editor asking why WONCA colleagues might be interested in Job’s story. Job’s reply was: “After all, I am just an ordinary guy….”. But most WONCA colleagues are not ordinary, so we leave it to the reader to decide.
A Nordic PhD: Clinical inertia or collective resistance?
A recently published PhD dissertation from Icelandic general practitioner Hálfdán Pétursson may provide some answers to the long time conflict between general practitioners and cardiovascular specialists, on risk factor thresholds for primary cardiovascular prevention.
Vasco da Gama junior researcher award
The Junior Researcher Award aims to promote a
generation of junior GP/FM doctors who include research skills with patient care as a life time career. This award honours outstanding research proposals from trainees or junior GPs/ family physicians with up to five years working experience after graduation.
Asia Pacific bursaries
WONCA Asia Pacific region council has announced the
final list of bursary recipients who will have been aided to attend the region conference in Jeju, in May.
Member Organization News
SOCHIMEF organized the XXIV Chilean Congress of Family Medicine
From Thursday, November 23, to Saturday, November 25, the Chilean Society of Family Medicine (Sochimef) held the XXIV Chilean Congress of Family Medicine, with over 50 speakers, at the Aula Magna of the University of La Frontera in Temuco, Region of La Araucanía.
Hong Kong Primary Care Conference 2021
The Hong Kong College of Family Physicians is delighted to invite you to the Hong Kong Primary Care Conference 2021, to be held online on 30 July – 1 August 2021.
Farewell to the Scandinavian Delegation of Family Physicians
Dr Allan Pelch, of Denmark, has led the Scandinavian Delegations of Family Physicians to dozens of conferences over the past 22 years. After this remarkable effort over many years, Allan is now retiring and reflect on the joys of these delegations.
Survey on communication courses - EACH
If you are a practising Family Doctor, could you please answer this short survey and list three courses not already offered by EACH that you would like to be co-developed
Virtual 2020 Besrour Family Medicine Forum
The Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine (Centre) at the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) invites you to participate at the Virtual 2020 Family Medicine Forum taking place Wednesday, November 4 to Saturday, November 7, 2020.
semFYC videos on COVID-19 and Mental Health
After its success in Spain, the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC) has translated a series of videos that analyse the main features of COVID19 pandemic and its effects on global Mental Health.
New Director of the Besrour Centre
On behalf of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), it is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr. David Ponka to the role of Director of the Besrour Centre as of September 4, 2019.
Canadian College certification exam turns 50
On behalf of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) we are very pleased to share with you a special milestone. June 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Certification Examination in Family Medicine and the Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) special designation.
Spanish Conference on Patient Safety in Primary Care
On June 22 2018, we held the conference on Patient Safety in Primary Care. For the eleventh consecutive year, primary care professionals met in the Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid to analyse, discuss and produce proposals for improvement regarding the equity and sustainability of the health system, as a first step to guarantee a safer healthcare.
Update: Family Medicine in Malawi
The Department of Family Medicine, at the University of Malawi College of Medicine was founded in 2011. A founding Faculty member for the department, Dr Luckson Dullie, was profiled on the WONCA website in 2013. John Parks MD is head of the Department of Family Medicine at University of Malawi College of Medicine in Malawi. Here he writes an update on Family Medicine in Malawi.
Dr Larry Green delivers the Ian McWhinney Lecture
The 2017 Ian McWhinney lecture by Dr Larry A. Green from the University of Colorado focused on personal doctoring. It explored whether or not people will have a personal physician anymore. The lecture has been published by Canadian Family Physician and translated into Spanish by Julio Ceitlin.
Family Medicine in Tajikistan
WONCA has had an application for membership from the Association of Family Medicine of Tajikistan. Dr Greta Ross tells us more about the situation in Tajikistan. In 2017, Greta joined the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s Medical Education Reform project (MEP) in Tajikistan.
Cross Straits General Practice Society meets in China
President elect Dr Donald Li attended the 5th Cross Straits General Practice Society as officiating guest 30th March - 1st April 2018 in Nanning, China. The theme of the conference was “A New Era of General Practitioners”. The conference was attended by over 2500 general practitioners
Bhutan becomes WONCA Academic Member
Dr Chhabi Lal Adhikari, Professor and GP Course Coordinator, Department of General Practice at Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan writes on the journey that has led to Bhutan’s first GP specialist training programme and then to that programme becoming a WONCA Academic Member Organization.
AAFP members help Puerto Rico colleagues
Kim Yu MD from the USA, is one amazing colleague. In just one week after the recent hurricane devastated Puerto Rico, Kim took to Facebook and drove a fundraising effort to help her collegues in Puerto Rico, raising over $62,000 from all the chapters of the American Academy of Family Physicians in just over one week,
Register for the Besrour Forum on November 7th, 2017
We welcome WONCA members from all regions of the world to join us for the 6th annual Besrour Forum on Tue Nov 7th, 2017 in Montreal, Canada! This year’s theme is Leading the way to Universal Health Coverage through Family Medicine: Skills for Success.
EGPRN launches international web-based course on PHC research
The European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN) officially launched the International Web-based Course on Research in Primary Health Care at the WONCA Europe Conference in Prague. The course is suitable for European family doctors and other healthcare professionals who are interested in research.
News from EACH - now international.
From Evelyn van Weel-Baumgarten, President of EACH: International Association of Communication in Healthcare (EACH) an Organization in Collaborative relations with WONCA.
College of Family Medicine Pakistan initiates research cell.
College of Family Medicine Pakistan has initiated its research cell. The project was initiated by the board of executive directors of the CFMP. Some of these members have expertise in conducting both clinical as well as community interventional research.
Balearic Meeting of European Residents & Young GPs coming next month
The Balearic and Spanish Societies of Family and Community Medicine (Ibamfic and SemFYC) have the great honor to invite you to the IV Balearic Meeting of European Residents & Young GPs - “Connecting Doctors”, which will be held in Palma de Mallorca on October 21st and 22nd of 2016.
Health is Primary campaign in the USA
Family Medicine for America is a collaboration between the USA’s eight leading family medicine organizations. It has launched a national three-year campaign, Health is Primary, to raise awareness of the role of primary care in the health care system and demonstrate its value in delivering on the Triple Aim of better health, better care and lower costs.
Amanda Howe visits Taiwan and the TAFM Action Plan
Report from Prof Howe regarding her visit to Taipei, Chinese Taipei, Asia Pacific Region, July 8-11 2016. During a press conference attended by Prof Amanda Howe, the Taiwan Association of Family Medicine released the Taiwan Action Plan.
STFM Foundation International Scholarship
The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Foundation supports the sharing of expertise among those who want to advance the family medicine model throughout the world. One scholarship recipient is selected each year and receives funding to attend the STFM Annual Spring Conference.
Euripa rural health forum coming in Marseille
The 6th Euripa Rural Health Forum, to be held in Marseille 23-24 September 2016, will address the full scope of research and educational questions facing rural family doctors of all ages, through presentations, workshops, and poster sessions.
Sri Lanka award to family physician inventor
Dr Sanath Hettige has won the first prize for the best medical invention (2013), for his invention of papaya leaf syrup, tablets and capsules for the treatment of dengue fever and other medical conditions.
College of Family Medicine Pakistan inaugurates Course for Diabetes
The College of Family Medicine Pakistan inaugurated a Certificate Course for Diabetes Management for Family Physicians, on 10th April 2016. The Course is aptly titled, “Fighting diabetes: educate 2 health.” The title is chosen in line with the WHO slogan 2016: "Beat the diabetes."
Bangladesh Academy of Family Physicians report
The Bangladesh Academy of Family Physicians reports on recent activities including the annual conference, the WONCA South Asia Region conference held recently in Colombo, the Academy CME programs, the family medicine diploma course and finally the coming WONCA world conference in Rio.
semFYC : la Asamblea de WONCA Europa en Estambul
La Sociedad Española de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria (semFYC) participó en la Asamblea y en el Congreso anuales celebrado en Estambul de WONCA Europa como miembro de las 45 organizaciones representadas por WONCA en toda Europa.
Canadian College's new governance structure and board.
At the Annual Meeting of Members (AMM) of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), members voted to approve a new governance structure for the College that will see a transition to a smaller skills-based Board of Directors.
The III Balearic Meeting of European Residents & Young GPs
On the 11th and 12th of September 2015, 100 Residents and Young GPs met at the Official Medical College of Balearic Islands (COMIB) in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), to take part in the III Balearic Meeting of European Residents & Young GPs
Bangladesh Family Medicine Diploma examinations
The Bangladesh Institute of Family Medicine & Research [BIFMR] is an Institute of the University of Science & Technology Chittagong [USTC]. BIFMR has been an ‘Academic Member of WONCA’ from the beginning of that membership category. Recently its Family Medicine Diploma exams were held.
Canada announce Director of Besrour Centre
The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) announce that Dr. Katherine Rouleau has been appointed to the position of Director, Besrour Centre effective immediately
Caribbean College of Family Physicians conference report
The Caribbean College of Family Physicians hosted its 6th Triennial Pan-Caribbean Family Medicine Conference from February 6 – 8, 2015 in Jamaica, under the theme – “Family Physicians: Integrating Mental Health Care in Family Practice”.
President Elect of WONCA, Professor Amanda Howe was present at the conference via a live teleconferencing link.
Family Medicine in Pakistan 2015
An update from Dr Shehla Naseem, Secretary General,
College of Family Medicine Pakistan, on exciting developments for Family Medicine in Pakistan.
New executive for Portuguese association
We are pleased to inform you that the following members were elected to Executive Board of The Portuguese Association of General Practice and Family Medicine (APMGF), for the years 2015-2017.
From our El Salvador colleagues
After two days full of different kind of emotions (happiness for the results, tiredness for the effort), I write you to say thanks for the support, in the name of all of members of the Family Medicine Association of El Salvador (AMEFAES)... Your speech caused a big impact on the audience: it was the best way to open our Congress.
Chinese Medical Association meeting hears of WONCA standards
Dr Donald Li, WONCA Executive member-at-large was recently invited to speak on the WONCA educational standards for accreditation at the Annual General Meeting and conference of the Society of General Practice of the Chinese Medical Association (SOGP CMA), the member organization of WONCA of China.
Más de 2.500 especialistas en Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria asistieron a la XXXIV Reunión Anual semFYC
Más de 2.500 especialistas en Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria asistieron del 12 al 14 de junio de este año al XXXIV Congreso de la semFYC. El 35% de los asistentes a esta actividad fueron residentes y jóvenes médicos de familia y comunitaria. Durante el Congreso, se ofrecieron 80 actividades científicas (sesiones clínicas, más de 25 talleres y reuniones mantenidas con los expertos...), y se presentaron 2.000 comunicaciones, de las cuales 1.350 fueron aceptadas.
Family Medicine in Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s first family medicine training program was inaugurated in February 2013 with eight residents ...
News from Canada
The College of Family Physicians of Canada is pleased to announce the 2013–2014 Executive Committee
Chris van Weel at Korean Academy conference
In 2018, Seoul will be the place of the Wonca World Conference and this perspective gave an additional flavor to the invitation by the Korean Academy of Family Medicine (KAFM)
Bangladesh Academy latest news
The Bangladesh Academy of Family Physicians report on their proposed 2014 conference, the latest family medicine diploma examination results and concluding ceremony.
New semFYC board
The Spanish Society, semFYC, has a new board. Their election proposals are available in English and español :
More semFYC / más semFYC
Family medicine in Kenya
The Kenya Association of Family Physicians (KAFP) has submitted a report on the state of family medicine in Kenya.
News from Bangladesh
View the March 2013 newsletter of the Bangladesh Academy of Family Physicians, including coverage of the 17th National Conference held on 1 & 2 February 2013.
UK Doctors in the fast lane on social media guidance
The first-ever practical guide to help UK doctors navigate their way around the ethical and confidentiality dilemmas of social media is published today by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in collaboration with Doctors.net.uk and LimeGreen Media.
Unity for Pakistan Family Doctors
Family medicine history was made at Lahore, Pakistan on Saturday February 16, 2013 with the formation of the Pakistan Family Doctors forum
Report on Nepal conference 2012
The national conference of General Practitioners’ Association of Nepal (GPAN) conference was held in the beautiful city of Dharan, Nepal, from November 25–26.
Canada - CFPC annual conference
The College of Family Physicians of Canada recently held its annual conference. Honorary membership was bestowed on WONCA North America region president, Daniel J Ostergaard.
CFPC introduce new Executive
CFPC introduce the members of the new Executive Committee, including the College's new President, Dr Marie-Dominique Beaulieu from Montreal, Quebec.
From Italy - the Giotto Movement work shop
The workshop of the Giotto Movement was held in Bologna on April 21, 2012. During the first session,
the Giotto Movement; WONCA and its Networks and Working Groups; the Vasco da Gama Movement and its history in Italy and in Europe were presented. Various ‘exchanges’ (The Hippocrates Exchange, RCGP/AiT, LOVAH/WES and SoMaMFyC) were
also presented and participants shared their experiences.
Indian Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care launched
The first issue of the Journal of Family Medicine and
Primary Care (JFMPC) covering January - June 2012, Vol 1 Issue 1, is published. JFMPC is the official publication of the Academy of Family Physicians of India (AFPI). Dr Raman Kumar, president AFPI is also the chief editor of the JFMPC.
MRCGP (Int) in Pakistan
The College of Family Medicine in Pakistan, has
arranged lectures by Dr David M Chaput De Saintonge and Dr Andrew Roger Charley from the UK Prime Organisation, for our trainee MRCGP (Int) South Asia
participants. Prof Waris Qidwai and Dr Marie Andreadis of the Aga Khan University (AKU) arranged a program on the subject of Whole Person Medicine, which was highlighted by both the speakers and appreciated very much by the participants.
Family medicine in Ghana
Family doctors in Ghana celebrated World Family Doctor Day with a publication in a leading newspaper
which gives all of us some interesting background to family medicine in Ghana.
Pakistan: speeches on Family Doctor Day
The biggest gathering of family doctors was held at Najmuddin Auditorium, in Karachi and the chief guest speaker was the Honorable Sardar Muhammad Yasin Malik, chairman of Hilton Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. Also speaking was Dr Aziz Khan Tank, Secretary General, of the College of Family Medicine Pakistan. Their speeches are featured here.
Resources for Family Doctors
Book review: How to do Primary Care Research
WONCA's Working Party on Research through Felicity Goodyear-Smith and Bob Mash have produced a book on "How to do Primary Care Research". A review of this book has been published and can be found online.
semFYC videos on COVID-19 and Mental Health
After its success in Spain, the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC) has translated a series of videos that analyse the main features of COVID19 pandemic and its effects on global Mental Health.
Education for Primary Care feature free access article
Prof Val Wass, Chair WONCA Working Party on Education writes on the latest open access item in Education for Primary Care: from Felicity Goodyear-Smith "Provision of e-learning programmes to replace undergraduate medical students’ clinical general practice attachments during COVID-19 stand-down"
Education for Primary Care open access items
Prof Val Wass, Chair WONCA Working Party on Education writes on the latest open access items in Education for Primary Care. We are pleased to announce that the March issue 31:2 is now on line. This issue shares global experience of primary care very much linked with WONCA. It emphasises how we learn from each other.
WHO resources on COVID-19
WHO has developed numerous resources on COVID-19. An indicative list follows: research database; technical documents and a training course.
Goodfellow GEMS - final 2019 items
Gems are chosen by the Goodfellow Unit director, Dr Bruce Arroll, to be either practice changing or practice maintaining. The information is educational and not clinical advice. ©The Goodfellow Unit, Auckland.
Education for Primary Care : free access article
Free Access is being offered for a paper in the 30:4 issue : As professional identity formation is becoming an increasingly important concept and this paper refers to three important papers on this I felt it offered an opportunity to reflect on how as GP educators we can really support our students and trainees to develop in the challenging and rapidly changing health care environment we all face
Launch of a Toolkit to help develop palliative care in primary care
The Toolkit was launched at the 2019 EAPC conference in Berlin. It was presented at a plenary lecture to the audience of about 3000 delegates who each received a copy. Professor Scott Murray from the University of Edinburgh presented an infographic about the Toolkit and a short video about how it might be used.
Goodfellow GEMS - more available
More Goodfellow Unit GEMS have been loaded this month. What is a GEM? Gems are chosen by the Goodfellow Unit director Dr Bruce Arroll to be either practice changing or practice maintaining. The information is educational and not clinical advice. ©The Goodfellow Unit, Auckland, New Zealand.
Goodfellow Gems added this month
Gems added this month; Goodfellow Gems are chosen by the Goodfellow Unit director Dr Bruce Arroll to be either practice changing or practice maintaining. The information is educational and not clinical advice. ©The Goodfellow Unit (New Zealand). With permission, WONCA adds links to a number of these to our website.
Resources added in May
Some extra PEARLS have been sourced for this month. Practical Evidence About Real Life Situations - are brief (minimalistic summaries) of Cochrane Primary care systematic reviews with the answer in the title (so you only read the ones you like). And there are a few new Goodfellow GEMS as well.
Gems and PEARLS loaded this month
Goodfellow Gems are chosen by the Goodfellow director Dr Bruce Arroll to be either practice changing or practice maintaining. The information is educational and not clinical advice. ©The Goodfellow Unit.
PEARLS -Practical Evidence About Real Life Situations are brief (minimalistic summaries) of Cochrane Primary care systematic reviews with the answer in the title
Education for Primary Care - February free articles
Every month the journal Education for Primary Care provides WONCA members with free access to one interesting article. We are offering free access this month to a paper from Maggie Bartlett and the team at Keele Medical School UK on community attachments for 15 weeks in final year and the accompanying stimulating commentary from Paul Worley.
Resources added for the New Year
There are a number of new resources now added on the WONCA website.Some have been provided by WONCA Working Parties and Special Interest Groups and others are more Goodfellow Gems and PEARLS.
PEARLS loaded this month.
PEARLS - Practical Evidence About Real Life Situations: These are brief (minimalistic summaries) of Cochrane Primary care systematic reviews with the answer in the title (so you only read the ones you like). Ten new PEARLS added to the website.
Goodfellow GEMS added this month
More Goodfellow GEMS are added to our website. Gems are chosen by the director of the Goodfellow Unit, New Zealand, Dr Bruce Arroll, to be either practice changing or practice maintaining.
Education for Primary Care free access paper on supervision
This paper explores ways peer group supervision in a long term well established group of general practitioners can improve communication and patient centred care at the same time maintaining enthusiasm and preventing burn out. In Denmark group supervision for general practitioners is an established part of continuing professional development.
Resources: Goodfellow GEMS and PEARLS added in June
Goodfellow Gems are chosen by the Goodfellow Unit director Dr Bruce Arroll to be either practice changing or practice maintaining. The information is educational and not clinical advice. PEARLS are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.
WHO Technical Series on Safer Primary Care
The Technical Series on Safer Primary Care is a series of nine monographs, which explore the magnitude and nature of harm of each topic in the primary care setting, and provides potential solutions and practical next steps for improvement.
Launched in Rio - Rio Statement and resources
The WONCA Rio statement was launched By Professor Michael Kidd at the opening ceremony of the WONCA World conference held recently in Rio. He also launched the following items developed in the last triennium.
Goodfellow Gems - an educational resource for FPs
WONCA is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Goodfellow Unit of the University of Auckland in New Zealand. As a result we will be promoting an educational resource "GoodFellow Gems" which are produced by the Goodfellow Unit.
Resources- PEARLS added this month
PEARLS are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care. Next month we begin a relationship with the Goodfellow Unit of the University of Auckland which will see us promote their "Goodfellow Gems" another clinical resource.
WHO document "Communicating radiation risks in paediatric imaging"
WHO has just published the document “Communicating radiation risks in paediatric imaging: Information to support health care discussions about benefit and risk”. This document is intended to be a tool for health care providers to communicate about risks associated with paediatric imaging procedures.
Michael Kidd launches 'The Universal Doctor' stories
'The Universal Doctor’ is presented an example of the power of doctors’ stories. We are seeking more stories from family doctors from around the world to contribute to a new edition on humanity, human rights and resilience.
PEARLS - latest resources added
PEARLS are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.
RCGP publishes new book: Mapping Uncertainty in Medicine
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has just published guidance to help clinicians understand uncertainty in medical practice, help them manage it effectively and improve their stress levels and resilience as a result.
The VdGM Compass: Navigating the Sea of Soci@l Media
Our aims in creating this ePDF, through using actual case studies in peer-to-peer social media usage, were to empower family doctors, GP trainees and medical students, enabling them to make good use of social media, and to develop professional social media strategies that support the maintenance of a healthy work/life balance
Quaternary Prevention special issue published
The Brazilian Journal of Family and Community Medicine (RBMFC) is recently published a special issue about 'Quaternary Prevention' which has had a significant spread in South America. The articles are in English Portuguese and Spanish.
Resources added this month
Latest PEARLS added as well as the Australian Smoking, nutrition, alcohol, physical activity (SNAP) guide.
Resources added November 2014
These resources were added to the WONCA website in November 2014. Why not take a look at the many other resources on the WONCA website by going to the Resources homepage.
WONCA website resources
In need of holiday reading? Why not look at some of the resources on WONCA’s website? It includes: A-Z topic listing; Journals of interest; PEARLS.... and more.
mhGAP - a WHO mental health resource
The mhGAP Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG), developed based on WHO recommendations, contains clinical protocols for management of priority conditions by non-specialist health care providers.
PEARLS added this month
Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group - see this month's additions.
Health 2020: A European policy framework and strategy
Health 2020 is a policy framework aimed at providing European politicians and policy-makers key strategic advice to support action for improving health, well-being and health equity, in a way that is sensitive to each country’s situation, political and organisational circumstances.
Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions - PAHO report
The new PAHO/WHO report, Innovative care for chronic conditions: Organizing and delivering high quality care for chronic noncommunicable diseases in the Americas, proposes an integrated Chronic Care Model for addressing NCDs in the context of primary health care
Announcements and Updates
Join ASPIRE Leadership Curriculum Webinar Series!
Are you a medical professional looking to enhance your leadership skills? Look no further! The World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) invites you to be a part of our exciting
three-part webinar series on Physician Leadership.
LSHTM 2022/23 Series on Primary Health Care
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s 2022/23 Public Health & Policy online monthly seminar series has welcomed leading experts as speakers and over 2000 unique viewers from across the world.
Webinar: Rethinking Patient Safety in Family Medicine
The webinar will feature two renowned experts in the field, Professor Jose Valderas and Dr Maud Nauta, to share their insights on the latest developments and best practices for improving patient outcomes by fostering a culture of patient safety in primary care settings.
Share Your Opinion: WONCA Readership Survey 2023
We want to ensure that WONCA News and WONCA E-Updates are meeting your needs and providing valuable information. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to complete our survey.
IHF: 46th World Hospital Congress
The International Hospital Federation, WONCA Member in collaborative relations, is seeking projects and programmes that showcase innovations, models, and examples of healthcare leadership
HLMA Webinar: Bridging Gaps in Asthma Care
The Healthy Lung Masterclass Asia (HLMA) webinar series will conclude, with its final webinar on 27 October 2022 (19:00–20:25 UTC+8) entitled “Bridging the doctor-patient gap to improve asthma care”.
WFPHA: 17th World Congress on Public Health
Over 3,000 public health professionals and researchers, policymakers, and students will convene in Rome, Italy, from 2 to 6 May 2023 for the 17th World Congress on Public Health
Besrour Centre: Call of Abstracts Extended
The Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine (Besrour Centre) is pleased to announce the call for abstracts for the Dr. Patrick Chege Memorial Research Award for posters being presented at the College of Family Physicians of Canada™ (CFPC)’s Family Medicine Forum (FMF).
2021 University of Toronto Family Medicine Report
On the theme ‘Caring Through Crisis’, it features personal stories, reflections and anecdotes that represent just a small fraction of the incredible work happening in family medicine and primary care
WONCA seeks Chief Administrative Officer
We are looking for a Chief Administrative Officer to work in the new Secretariat of WONCA, based in Brussels. We seek a highly motivated individual, with a strong ‘can-do’ attitude and positive mentality.
Besrour Centre Global COVID-19 Pandemic Response & Impact Grant
The Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine (Besrour Centre) at the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) , thanks to the generous support of the CFPC’s Foundation for the Advancement of Family Medicine (FAFM), is seeking proposals for a Global COVID-19 pandemic innovation response for grants up to $50,000 Canadian dollars (CAD). More information in English (et en Français).
World Family Doctor day - May 19, 2020
We’re happy for Member Organizations to develop their own theme for FDD, depending on local priorities, but this year we’d especially like to highlight the theme that relevant to challenges and responsibilities of family doctors in the new global coronavirus outbreak. – "Family doctors on the front line".
Research award for presentations at WONCA World conference
The Taiwan Family Medicine Research Award (TFMRA) was established by the Chinese Taipei Association of Family Medicine in 2008. It will support three junior family physicians to attend the WONCA World Conference and applications are welcome from all WONCA regions.
WONCA Global Jobs Board
WONCA CEO, Garth Manning, has written a letter to member organisations informing them of an exciting development of a new global jobs board on the WONCA website.
Montegut Scholarships -Africa and Iberoamericana regions
The time has come to seek applications from doctors from these two regions for Montegut scholarships, allowing one doctor from each region to attend regional conferences in August. This year there will be two awards for the Africa region and one for the Iberoamericana region.
The Lancet Commission on Essential Medicines Policies
In mid 2014 The Lancet commissioned a group of 21 independent experts in a variety of disciplines to generate a report on Essential Medicines Policies to be published in late 2016. Dr Lembit Rägo, Secretary-General, CIOMS shares the report.
Dr Halfdan Mahler, WHO’s third Director-General, dies at 93
Prof Michael Kidd, WONCA Immediate Past President directs us to an announcment by the WHO that Dr Halfdan Mahler, the third WHO Director-General has died. Prof Kidd says "He is being hailed, I think appropriately, as a hero of global public health and primary health care."
2017 AFMC Charles Boelen International Social Accountability Award
Applications close November 4, 2016 for the the AFMC Charles Boelen International Social Accountability Award. The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) last year announced a new award - the AFMC Charles Boelen International Social Accountability Award. Named after Dr Charles Boelen, a world leader in Social Accountability, it aims to celebrate people or organizations whose professional accomplishments are reflective of the principles of social accountability.
STFM Foundation International Scholarship
The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Foundation supports the sharing of expertise among those who want to advance the family medicine model throughout the world. One scholarship recipient is selected each year and receives funding to attend the STFM Annual Spring Conference.
Global “One Health Day” – November 3, 2016
Three leading international One Health groups, the One Health Commission, One Health Initiative Autonomous pro bono Team, and the Health Platform Foundation are partnering to create a global “One Health Day” on November 3.
Zika virus information
WONCA CEO, Dr Garth Manning has recently been in South America preparing for the coming WONCA world conference in Rio. He provides this summary of WHO information on the Zika virus.
IFMSA Training Manual on Climate and Health
The International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) is proudly launching a training manual, titled Climate and Health: Enabling Students and Young Professionals to Understand and Act Upon Climate Change Using a Health Narrative,
Un número especial sobre “Prevención Cuaternaria”
La Revista Brasileira de Medicina de Família e Comunidade (RBMFC) es la publicación científica trimestral de la Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina de Família e Comunidade (SBMFC). Se ha publicado recientemente en ella, un número especial sobre “Prevención Cuaternaria”, concepto que ha tenido una expansión significativa en Sud América.
IPCRG - Asthma Research Priorities
ICPRG (International Primary Care Research Group) has advised us of an EU-funded project to create a new action plan to outline research priorities in the field of asthma. Complete the survey to share your thoughts:
WONCA grieves
The WONCA family has been greatly saddened this weekend by the passing of two of its leaders, Prof Janko Kersnik, WONCA Europe Secretary and Dr David Game, past president of WONCA. WONCA sends its deepest condolences to the families of both men on behalf of the worldwide WONCA family.
2015 conference notices
Have you ever thought of attending a WONCA conference? Maybe you have been to many? Regardless, 2015 brings a variety of events to choose from, and spread all around the world - Croatia, Taiwan, Uruguay, Turkey, UAE, Bangladesh, Ghana.
Montegut Scholarships to 2015 WONCA conferences
The Montegut Global Scholars Program was established by the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation in 2010. The program will provide a scholarship for one family physician from each of the seven WONCA regions to aid their attendance at their respective regional WONCA meetings in 2015.
Family Medicine Research Award - Call for Applications
This Research Award is made possible by a generous donation from the Chinese Taipei Association of Family Medicine, to support three junior and emerging researchers to travel to present their paper at the 2015 WONCA Asia Pacific Region Conference
PEARLS added this month
More PEARLS have been added this month: - PEARLS are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care. Find out more ...
Family Doctor Day - May 19
This year we want to encourage even more organizations to celebrate in appropriate style on 19th May. We would love Member Organisations to tell us in advance of their plans – so that we can promote at least some in WONCA News