TUFH 2026, Manila
The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) is a partner of WONCA and an international, intersectoral movement working to improve health and health equity through community-oriented education, research and service. It is an official non-State actor in official relations with the World Health Organization. Its annual conference brings together academic institutions, health professionals, students and community organisations from around the world.
TUFH 2026 will take place from 4 to 7 August 2026 at the University of the Philippines Manila, hosted by The Network: TUFH and the University of the Philippines Manila. The conference theme is Bayanihan for Health Equity: Co-Creating Social Innovations for Responsive and Resilient Health Systems. Bayanihan is a Filipino term reflecting communal unity, collective action and mutual support.
At a glance
- Dates: 4 - 7 August 2026
- Location: Manila, Philippines
- Venue: Henry Sy Sr. Medical Sciences Building, University of the Philippines Manila
- Hosts: The Network: Towards Unity for Health and the University of the Philippines Manila
- Theme: Bayanihan for Health Equity: Co-Creating Social Innovations for Responsive and Resilient Health Systems
- Format: In person, with an option for virtual participation
About the conference
TUFH 2026 is an international, intersectoral and intergenerational conference that brings academic organisations and global health providers together in a single event. The programme includes keynote sessions, TUFH documentaries, TUFH Talks, workshops and oral presentations, alongside networking sessions, a Conference on the Move community engagement programme, and a cultural dinner. In-person attendance is strongly encouraged, with virtual participation available for those unable to travel.
The conference also hosts a number of themed summits, including summits on social innovation in health, women's health, ageing health, mental health and disaster preparedness, and remote and rural health.
Remote and Rural Health Summit 2026
Of particular relevance to the WONCA community, the Remote and Rural Health Summit 2026 is led by the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice (Rural WONCA), in collaboration with The Network: TUFH and with support from the National Center for Rural Health Professions, the Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia, and RDN, The Charity for Health Access. GRACE (Global Rural health Action, Collaboration and Excellence) partners are also taking part.
The summit theme is Bridging the Distance: Local Realities, Global Equity. It takes place on Thursday 6 August 2026 in Room 506/507 of the Henry Sy Sr. Medical Sciences Building. It brings together family doctors, GPs, rural generalists, nurses, educators, researchers and policymakers to share practical solutions for strengthening health systems in remote and rural communities.
The summit is structured in three phases:
- The road to Manila. A three-part pre-summit webinar series ran from May to July 2026, building consensus and gathering data ahead of the in-person meeting. The sessions covered health emergency preparedness in rural and remote settings, socially accountable training for the last mile, and Indigenous health workforce models, the last held in collaboration with the World Health Organization.
- The summit. A full day of sessions on 6 August, including a keynote on the state of rural health, high-impact rural innovation presentations, an interactive debate on rural health workforce retention led by Rural WONCA and WHO, a panel discussion on resilience, mental health and safety for providers in isolated settings, and a workshop drafting the Manila Declaration on Rural Health Equity, culminating in its launch at the closing ceremony.
- Post-summit impact. A set of planned publications will carry the summit's findings into the academic record, including the Manila Declaration policy statement, an educational review, and a regional report.
Call for abstracts
Abstracts for oral presentations were invited across the conference themes, including a dedicated Remote and Rural Health subtheme for the summit. Submission details and guidelines are available on the TUFH 2026 website.
Find out more
For the full programme, registration, venue and travel information, and the latest updates, please visit the TUFH 2026 website: