Indigenous & minority group health issues subcommittee

The WONCA Asia Pacific (AP) region subcommittee on Indigenous and minority group health issues was established on June 3 2009, in Hong Kong, sanctioned by the WONCA Asia Pacific region council. The AP Council stipulated that this work should include not just those countries in the Asia Pacific region, but across the world.

Members of the subcommittee (l to r): Prof Khaya Mfenyana (South Africa), Dr Tane A Taylor (New Zealand), Assoc Prof Jan Redford (Australia), Dr Peter Jansen (New Zealand)

Dr Tane A Taylor (New Zealand) was charged with leading this subcommittee. Currently the sub-committee includes Dr Peter Jansen (New Zealand), Assoc Prof Jan Redford (Australia), Prof Khaya Mfenyana (South Africa). The subcommittee’s first task is to develop a Draft Charter that will outline the intent and purpose for this subcommittee and then circulate for wider consultation.

Discrimination based on age, gender , race, sexual orientation or religious beliefs are uniformly condemned by our modern society. Download summary of relevant United Nations declarations.

The subcommittee has shamelessly looked at and adopted work done by the WONCA Working Party on Women and Family Medicine (WWPWFM). We acknowledge and thank them for allowing us to incorporate their work.

Statement of Intent

The WONCA Asia Pacific Subcommittee on Indigenous and Minority Group Health Issues makes the following statement:

1. Cognizant of the fundamental aspiration of all individuals, families, communities and peoples to achieve and maintain the highest quality of life;

2. Recognizing the centrality of improved and optimal health to the achievement of the highest quality of life;

3. Recalling the important provisions of the charters, declarations and instruments of the United Nations, WHO, UNDP and other international organisations regarding human rights, equity, development, health and human dignity;

4. Recognizing that the elimination of ethnic inequality (as well as other violations of universal human rights) is an important prerequisite for development, including the improvement and achievement of optimal health;

5. Affirming that the improvement and achievement of optimal health is dependent on high standards and levels of health care provision, organisation, teaching and research;

6. Convinced that general practice/family medicine is the cornerstone of the achievement of high standards and levels of health care provision, organisation, teaching and research throughout the world;

7. Noting the global benefit of organisation and knowledge exchange between general practice/family medicine organisations and practitioners, and between general practice/family medicine and other organisations concerned with health and medical care;

The sub-committee urges the general practice/family medicine organisations of the world that are constituted as the WONCA to adopt the following fundamental recommendations regarding indigenous and minority group equity:

1. Enshrine the principle of indigenous and minority group equity within WONCA governance.
2. Implement indigenous and minority group equity in all activities of WONCA, in particular the scientific programs of its triennial, regional, and rural meetings.
3. Promulgate the pivotal role of ethnicity, indigenous, and minority group as a key determinant of health.

Vision

To provide a universal gold standard of healthcare care by empowerment through primary care and in collaboration with all interested stakeholders.

Mission

To eliminate inequalities in health outcomes for all people.

Objectives

• To serve as a focus to stimulate and promote standards of excellence in the primary care management of cultural competency, consistent with patient and professional values and with reference to evidence based health care
• To promote the concept of indigenous and minority groups health issues
• To promote and develop indigenous and minority groups health research activities in primary care and the primary care interface
• To hold scientific meetings, which may include sessions and workshops, during WONCA Regional and World conferences, to present original papers and to address broader educational issues through discussion, training and debate
• To develop and promote appropriate literature for primary care professionals using a variety of resources, including WONCA Online
• To promote cultural competency world-wide through collaborative working within WONCA, NGO’s, government organisations, patient groups and other medical colleges
• To address the issue of stigma associated with indigenous and minority groups health issues.

Activities

• Guideline development on indigenous and minority groups health issues
• Scientific presentations on indigenous and minority groups health issues .
• Advice to WONCA and affiliated Colleges on indigenous and minority groups health issues.
• Participation in WONCA activities and conferences with a focus on the indigenous and minority groups health agenda.
• Working with WHO to develop a resource book on the integration of indigenous and minority groups health issues into primary care
• Provision of a regular Working Party newsletter and educational materials
• Supporting the indigenous and minority groups health curriculum in primary care education.
• Developing and supporting postgraduate accreditation programmes for General Practitioners with a Special Interest (GPwSI) in Cultural Competency.

Dr Tane A Taylor FRNZCGP
Chair
WONCA Asia Pacific region subcommittee on Indigenous and minority group health issues