The Second World Rural Health Congress issued the "Durban Declaration" on
Health for All Rural People. This sets out the concerns and aspirations of
rural doctors for the health of rural people around the world. Implementation
of the following recommendations will facilitate achievement of that
declaration. A combined effort to redress the historical inequities faced by
rural and disadvantaged communities is needed through affirmative action for
rural people with respect to health care.
The recommendations in this Policy present a matrix of measures designed to
assist rural people through the enhancement of rural health services. The
philosophy of the recommendations was set out in the WONCA "Policy on Training
for Rural Practice":
"The world-wide shortage of rural family doctors contributes directly to the
difficulties with providing adequate medical care in rural and remote areas in
both developed and less developed countries. WONCA believes there is an urgent
need to implement strategies to improve health services around the world. This
will require sufficient numbers of skilled rural family doctors to provide the
necessary services."
The WONCA Working Party on Training for Rural Practice was formed following the
WONCA World Conference in 1992. At that conference the rural delegates met to
discuss matters related to rural practice. The consensus that developed formed
the basis for the "Policy on Training for Rural Practice" which was endorsed
by WONCA Council on 9 June 1995.
At that 1995 WONCA World Conference, the WONCA working party was expanded and
contributed to discussions regarding the organisation of the First
International Conference on Rural practice in China.
In the triennium following the 1995 WONCA World Conference the Working Party
was involved in the organisation of two international rural health conferences
- The First International Conference on Rural practice in Shanghai/Fengxian
County China in 1996 and the Second World Rural Health Congress in Durban South
Africa in 1997. These Conferences each involved more than 300 delegates from
around the world. Participants in both conferences developed a set of
recommendations that enhance the Training Policy recommendations and reflect a
developing world perspective.
This Policy on Rural Practice and Rural Health seeks to build on the seminal
ideas of the Training Policy. Much experience was gained over the six years
since the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice was formed and met to discuss
these issues. Many projects have been piloted and tested. Many of these have
been the subject of lively presentation and discussion at the International
Conferences. This policy seeks to distil from these a set of strategies which
will benefit the health of rural people. The Working Party hopes that this
document will provide a practical blueprint for Governments, Academies,
Colleges and communities to tackle the parlous state of rural health.