Newsletter: November 2015

I was in Kyrgyzstan, accompanied by WONCA president-elect, Amanda Howe, and WONCA Europe President, Job Metsemakers, for the nation’s first congress of general practitioners and family physicians, hosted by the Minister of Health and the leadership of the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy. Kyrgyzstan, like many countries in Central Asia, is facing a new round of health system reform, based on family medicine and strengthening primary health care.

Yo estaba en Kirguistán, acompañado de la presidenta electa de WONCA Amanda Howe y del Presidente de WONCA Europa Job Metsemakers, en motivo del primer Congreso que se hacía en el país de profesionales y médicos generalistas, organizado por el Ministerio de Salud y la dirección de la Academia de Medicina del Gobierno de Kirguistán.

This month I want to tell you a little of the recent WONCA Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) conference in Dubai and also provide some feedback on the latest WONCA Executive meeting in Abu Dhabi on 20th and 21st March.

This month I want to report back to everyone on the recent WONCA Executive meeting held in Istanbul on 18th and 19th October, just prior to the WONCA Europe conference.

WONCA Europe region held its annual conference in Istanbul during October and as a result WONCA News for November sees a focus on WONCA Europe. Harris Lygidakis, WONCA Europe Hon Secretary, reports on the conference. "Returning from the WONCA Europe conference in Istanbul, we look back at an amazing organizational feat, led by Okay Basak, Dilek Guldal, Mehmet Ungan and Resat Dabak, which saw the participation of more than 3,600 colleagues, more than 1,000 of whom being junior doctors or trainees."

The MGSP was established to foster international education, research and collaboration, in the specialty of family medicine. Read how the schoalrship helped Shastri Motilal from Jamaica and Patrick O'Donnell from Ireland.

A little over one year ago, WONCA News began a regular feature on the subject of Occupational Health including useful resources for clinical practice. Peter Buijs (right) & Frank van Dijk (left) are the promotors and main authors. Here we review the items published so far.

The World Health Organisation has recently updated its mhGAP guidelines for the management of common mental health problems in low and middle income countries. WONCA works closely with WHO and offers consultancy services in support of mhGAP.

URGENT NOTICE: Abstracts for workshops, panels and symposia for the WONCA World conference coming to Rio next year close on February 1.

Compartimos el artículo de Fragmentos de política de este noviembre de la presidenta electa de WONCA, Amanda Howe acerca de la situación que se vive por la crises de los refugiados

The recent situation of rapid and unplanned migration in Europe has raised my awareness of a situation which many other regions have already experienced. The WONCA Europe conference saw the launch of the ‘Istanbul statement’ on refugee health, and much discussion

El cliché es, “si no se mide no se gestiona” – o simplemente puede no hacerse. Aunque existen numerosos riesgos asociados con querer medir cosas que no se pueden o no se deben medir, hay una cierta verdad en este dicho.

The World Health Organisation has recently updated its mhGAP guidelines for the management of common mental health problems in low and middle income countries. WONCA works closely with WHO and offers consultancy services in support of mhGAP.

This month's rural round-up is written by a trio of Australians working in Tasmania, who consider the different workforce needs of that island.

Prof Dada Leopando reports on a meeting of the WONCA Working Party on Women in Family Medicine (WWPWFM) held in June in the Philippines

We are proud to send you the first newsletter of the WONCA Special Interest Group on Family Violence.

Maria van den Muijsenbergh, convener of the WONCA special interest group on Migrant care, international health and travel medicine reports on activities in Istanbul and for the future.

WONCA Europe region held its annual conference in Istanbul during October and as a result WONCA News for November sees a focus on WONCA Europe. Harris Lygidakis, WONCA Europe Hon Secretary, reports on the conference. "Returning from the WONCA Europe conference in Istanbul, we look back at an amazing organizational feat, led by Okay Basak, Dilek Guldal, Mehmet Ungan and Resat Dabak, which saw the participation of more than 3,600 colleagues, more than 1,000 of whom being junior doctors or trainees."

WONCA Europe has announced its 5 Star doctor for 2015 : Dr Ali Cerrahoğlu MD, family physician of Turkey.

WONCA EMR president, Mohammed Tarawneh reports on the 62nd session of WHO regional Committee for East Mediterranean Region

On behalf of our colleagues across our region, WONCA Europe and the Turkish association of Family Doctors have published a statement on the refugee crisis

On the 11th and 12th of September 2015, 100 Residents and Young GPs met at the Official Medical College of Balearic Islands (COMIB) in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), to take part in the III Balearic Meeting of European Residents & Young GPs

Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) International Travel Scholarship and Eric Gambrill Memorial Awards - information for applicants