WMA Junior Doctor Network Meeting, Rotterdam

WONCA Young Doctors' Movement represented at the World Medical Association Junior Doctor Network Fall Meeting in Rotterdam

WONCA YDM was invited to participate in the World Medical Association Junior Doctors Network (WMA JDN) Fall Meeting in Rotterdam, bringing the perspective of young family doctors to discussions on “Equity for Providers, Equity for All: Closing the Gaps within the Health Workforce.”

The meeting highlighted how closely some of the priorities of WMA JDN and WONCA YDM overlap. Working conditions, medical education, gender and intersectional equity, health workforce distribution, medical independence and meaningful involvement of young doctors in policy are challenges that directly affect both healthcare professionals and the patients they serve.

Primary health care featured prominently throughout the meeting. Discussions repeatedly returned to the undervaluation of primary care, the lack of exposure to community-based medicine during training, workforce shortages in underserved areas and the need to better support and retain doctors outside hospital settings. It was particularly encouraging to see strong recognition of the role of primary health care also among junior doctors working predominantly in hospitals.

WONCA YDM was able to contribute to these discussions through a panel on urgent inequities affecting healthcare professionals, highlighting the perspective of family medicine junior doctors and the importance of strong, equitable primary health care systems.

Jan Lubomski, WONCA YDM Collaboration Officer (left), with Pablo Estrella-Porter, Chair, World Medical Association Junior Doctors Network

The meeting also reinforced the value of collaboration between our organisations. Earlier this year, WONCA YDM and WMA JDN joined efforts around World Immunisation Week and the dissemination of the ongoing Global Study on Working Hours and Conditions of Junior Doctors. With common priorities and complementary perspectives, there is considerable potential to build on this collaboration.

For WONCA YDM, being invited to the JDN meeting was an opportunity not only to represent family medicine, but also to identify where young doctors across different parts of the health system can speak with a stronger, more united voice. More joint work is already being explored.

Jan Lubomski
WONCA YDM Collaboration Officer