Newsletter: June 2023

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.

We invite you to share the exciting activities and initiatives you organised to celebrate this special day.

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 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.

We have run webinars, shared evidence on how to handle power and create change, and heard from colleagues who have been advocates through WONCA and their other roles.

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

Noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, chronic respiratory disease, mental health conditions, vision loss, and especially circulatory diseases, increase the vulnerability of populations to pandemics.

We welcome the development of WHO's global framework on well-being, commending the recognition that addressing the main NCD risk factors, and their root causes, is a foundation of well-being, and that health promotion is an essential public health function and Universal Health Coverage element.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) targets will remain unmet unless urgent steps are taken to strengthen health care by focusing on primary health care (PHC) and promoting self-care.

The Portuguese Association of General and Family Medicine (APMGF) is actively engaged in promoting the upcoming 25th WONCA World Conference, scheduled to take place in Lisbon in 2025.

The WONCA Special Interest Group on Integrative Care supports WONCA's vision by promoting integrative medicine for universal health coverage and sustainable development.

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.

Chairs of the WONCA Working Parties and Special Interest Groups made significant contributions to the conference, sharing their expertise and insights with the participants in multiple sessions

The Bahrain Medical Society has approved the activation of the Bahraini Family Physicians Association.

The Portuguese Association of General and Family Medicine (APMGF) is actively engaged in promoting the upcoming 25th WONCA World Conference, scheduled to take place in Lisbon in 2025.