Newsletter: April 2015

La Organización regional Iberoamericana de WONCA fue fundada en 1981 por un pionero de la medicina de familia argentina, Julio Ceitlin. La organización reunió a las sociedades y colegios de medicina familiar en los países de la región y en 1996 fue nombrada como Confederación Iberoamericana de Medicina Familiar

WONCA’s Iberoamericana regional organisation was founded in 1981 by Argentine family medicine pioneer, Julio Ceitlin. The organization brought together societies and colleges of family medicine in the countries of the region and in 1996 was named the Confederacion Iberoamericana de Medicina Familiar.

We really are blessed in WONCA. In each of our seven regions we now have a Young Doctors’ Movement (YDM), helping to support and encourage and develop the next generation of family doctors and WONCA leaders. At two recent conferences – WONCA South Asia in Dhaka and WONCA Asia Pacific in Taipei – I’ve been privileged to take part in sessions run by the regional YDMs.

There are two suggested themes for this year's World Family Doctor Day - “A family doctor for every family” and “Universal Health Coverage”. We also have a new logo and posters which can be downloaded. Read the CEO's message.

This month Chloé Perdrix continues her journey through Asia and in the beauty of Vietnam and Laos, must face some confronting issues.

In this contribution to our Occupational Health features, Frank van Dijk and co-author Karen Nieuwenhuijsen present reflections for the GP when confronted with depression or depressive disorders related to work.

WONCA is concerned about the impact of exposure to radiation through medical imaging, and the risks of unnecessary exposure due to inappropriate or excessive investigations. WONCA has been working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to look at ways to improve the appropriateness of imaging, and to measure each person's cumulative exposure to radiation from imaging.

The countdown to the WONCA Africa region conference is on! Coming to Accra, Ghana from May 6-9.

A report from the World Café workshop at the 2nd Vasco da Gama Forum in Dublin, 2015: The Best and Worst of Contemporary Health Systems in Europe.

At our twentieth conference, WONCA Europe invites you to look into the future from the perspective of the past. - find out more about the speakers already lined up. At our twentieth conference, WONCA Europe invites you to look into the future from the perspective of the past. Come to Istanbul to share what you think about family physicians, patients, diseases, health systems and WONCA with your colleagues from the speaker's corner.

Al final, la buena atención primaria de salud que ofrecemos a las personas mayores refleja el valor que damos a nuestros mayores; el retorno que ofrecemos por su contribución y los recursos que todavía nos brindan. Es una prueba de las sociedades civilizadas, un imperativo moral y lo que esperamos para nosotros mismos en nuestra vejez.

At the end of the day good primary health care for older people reflects the value we place on our elders; the ‘pay back’ we offer for their contribution, and the resources they still offer us. It is a test of civilised societies, a moral imperative, and what we hope for ourselves in our old age.

The Working Party on Rural Practice as part of the WONCA Family provides support and adds an influential voice at international policy tables to further the needs of our communities. If the idea of being “linked in” to rural colleagues around the globe appeal read more.

From March 4-8, 2015 WONCA Asia Pacific region held their conference in Taipei, Chinese Taipei. WONCA Asia Pacific region has met before in Taipei -16 years ago

The countdown to the WONCA Africa region conference is on! Coming to Accra, Ghana from May 6-9.

The fifth Asia Pacific research conference is coming to Malaysia this year, in December.

The WONCA Asia Pacific movement for young doctors, The Rajakumar Movement, recently met at the WONCA Asia Pacific conference in Taipei, Taiwan. See photos.

At our twentieth conference, WONCA Europe invites you to look into the future from the perspective of the past. - find out more about the speakers already lined up. At our twentieth conference, WONCA Europe invites you to look into the future from the perspective of the past. Come to Istanbul to share what you think about family physicians, patients, diseases, health systems and WONCA with your colleagues from the speaker's corner.

Open EQuiP Spring Meeting 2015: Knowledge Translation in Primary Health Care - Focus on Quality Circles EQuiP is the European Society for Quality and Safety in Family Practice - a WONCA Europe Network

Dr Deirdre Kelly an Irish general pracittioner in training writes on why she's proud to call herself a Vasco da Gamian after attending the recent forum in Dublin.

La Sociedad Española de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria (semFYC) apuesta por una nueva estrategia digital

The Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC) streamlines its digital channels and create new profiles on social networks

The Caribbean College of Family Physicians hosted its 6th Triennial Pan-Caribbean Family Medicine Conference from February 6 – 8, 2015 in Jamaica, under the theme – “Family Physicians: Integrating Mental Health Care in Family Practice”. President Elect of WONCA, Professor Amanda Howe was present at the conference via a live teleconferencing link.

Open EQuiP Spring Meeting 2015: Knowledge Translation in Primary Health Care - Focus on Quality Circles EQuiP is the European Society for Quality and Safety in Family Practice - a WONCA Europe Network