From the CEO's desk : WONCA Publications

Welcome to my first column of 2020 and I wish all members a very Happy New Year. It will, of course, be a very busy and interesting year for WONCA, culminating in the World Council and World Conference in Abu Dhabi in November, and with a series of excellent regional events between now and then.

Also of note is the great news that Dr Harris Lygidakis has been appointed to take over from me as CEO. Many of you will know Harris from his many activities in WONCA over many years, most especially as Chair of the Vasco da Gama Movement (Europe young doctors) and as Hon Secretary of WONCA Europe for a number of years. Harris and I have already started discussions about the transfer and he will formally be transitioning into his new role beginning November 2020, working closely with me to ensure continuity. More here.

WONCA Publications

This month, at the start of a new year, I wanted to remind everyone about the ever-increasing portfolio of WONCA publications which are available to purchase. The WONCA Family Medicine Series is a collection of books written by world-wide experts and practitioners in collaboration with WONCA

“Global Primary Mental Health Care – Practical Guidance for Family Doctors”.

This is the latest welcome addition to the WONCA family of publications. Edited by Professor Chris Dowrick, Chair of our WP on Mental Health, it brings together a series of papers which the WP has posted on its web page, with some additional chapters. Topics covered include: evidence based first consultation for depression; non-drug interventions for common mental health problems; medically unexplained symptoms; physical health care of people with severe mental illness; migrant mental, health issues; mental health of young people; and manging patients with dementia.

See news item

“Migrant Health: A Primary Care Perspective”.

This publication features inputs from a number of key WONCA luminaries including Iona Heath, Maria van den Muijsenbergh, Christos Lionis and Jill Benson. The foreword is written by Dr Anna Stavdal, WONCA’s President Elect, and as she states: “The western world is facing a surge of immigration right now as large numbers of people are leaving their home countries fleeing from war, famine and prosecution, or just hoping to advance their economic and professional prospects…… This book offers guidance to health practitioners on how best to meet and treat the health needs of migrants, our fellow men, no matter what stage in the often- troubled migration process they may find themselves in”

“How to do Primary Care Research”

Edited by Professors Felicity Goodyear-Smith and Bob Mash, this publication is a follow-on from their book “International Perspectives on Primary Care Research”. As family doctors we have a rich research laboratory all around us – our practice population – and apart from the epidemiologists we are virtually the only ones who can do community-based research. This book offers a really practical guide for those who would like to get more involved in primary care research, taking them step by step through designing, conducting and disseminating research from primary care.

“Primary Health Care around the World: Recommendations for International Policy and Development”.

This book is the first to bring together primary care experiences from around the world, with particular emphasis on non-western regions. Profiling the different countries’ primary health care systems and their implementation of PHC policy, as promoted by WHO and WONCA, the guide provides evidence of how countries and regions can introduce primary healthcare and family practice to improve their health care infrastructure and delivery. The book is edited by Professors Chris van Weel and Amanda Howe.

“Family Practice in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Universal Health Coverage and Quality Primary Care”

This book, a joint publication from WONCA and WHO, provides an in-depth analysis of the state of family practice in the 22 countries spread over North Africa, the Middle East and Western Asia – ie the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). It shares perspectives and advice from global and regional leaders on how family practice can be introduced and strengthened in high-, middle- and low-income countries. Although focused on EMR there are many valuable lessons for countries from many other regions. Many impressive and authoritative figures contributed to this book, which has been edited by Professor Michel Kidd (WONCA) and Dr Hassan Salah (WHO EMRO).

More information and purchase publications

Garth Manning
CEO