WONCA at the VIII Ibero-American Summit of Family Medicine 2022
WONCA President, Dr Anna Stavdal, joined the VIII Ibero-American Summit of Family Medicine in Guatemala. The event, whose central theme was "Family and Community Medicine, an essential specialty for the transformation of health systems in the 21st century", was held in the capital city of Guatemala on 10 and 11 November 2022.
Dr Stavdal was present at the opening session, preceded by Dr Francisco Coma, Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS), José Adolfo Flamenco, President of the Board of Directors of the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS), and Dr Jacqueline Ponzo, Regional President of WONCA Iberoamericana- CIMF.
On her speech, WONCA President Anna Stavdal highlighted the importance of the family medicine specialty to achieve universal health coverage with primary care as the cornerstone of health systems.
“People need health care where they live, in their communities. Hospitals and secondary care services are important, but what most people need is basic healthcare, tailored to their needs and accessible, both financially and geographically.”
During the second day of activities, Dr Stavdal led the session
"Lessons learned worldwide for the best implementation of Family and Community Medicine in health systems", along with Dr Gabriela Di Croce, regional representative of residents and young specialists of the Waynakay Movement.
Days before the event, Dr Stavdal also participated in the Day of residents and young specialists in Family and Community Medicine led by Waynakay Movement. The session had the face-to-face participation of young doctors and residents from multiple Latin American countries and the virtual presence route of Dr Sankha Randenikumara, leader of YDM - WONCA.
The VIII Ibero-American Summit of Family Medicine culminated with the reading and signing of the Declaration of Guatemala, which represents a commitment to promote family and community medicine in the region. The document was signed in an act at the National Palace of Culture in Guatemala City.
Press Release: Guatemala moves forward in the institutionalization of family medicine
The Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance -MSPAS-, Dr Francisco Coma, along with the President of the Board of Directors of the Guatemalan Social Security Institute -IGSS-, José Adolfo Flamenco; and the president of the World Organization of Family Physicians WONCA Iberoamericana - CIMF, Dr Jacqueline Ponzo, inaugurated the VIII Ibero-American Summit of Family Medicine -CIMF- and Community Medicine, with an essential specialty for the transformation of health systems in the 21st century. The event took place in a hotel in zone 10 of the capital on November 10 and 11.
The objective of this summit was to promote progress towards universal health access and the institutionalization of family medicine to strengthen skills, quality, and the profile of specialists and the system.
The conference represents the maximum regional event of WONCA Iberoamericana -CIMF-, due to its political-technical nature, which favours participatory work to improve institutional and societal commitments.
This event also contributes to a creative exchange that allows recognising the paths and processes that Guatemala can follow to install the specialization in the branch; a process that has been closely followed by the Pan American Health Organization -PAHO- to track the agreements and progress to achieve the objectives set.
During the summit activities, Minister Coma stated:
“It is a privilege for me to share with experts who have helped to reform the health systems of many countries. Having the support and conviction of more than one institution to integrate family and community medicine in our country is comforting. This summit comes to strengthen the knowledge of our health workers and inter-institutional efforts to reach all corners of the country, despite the distance and difficult access”.
Meanwhile, José Adolfo Flamenco commented:
"Guatemala is ready and needs to take this step, because family and community medicine is the differentiating element to promote a new service model."
“I feel honoured to participate in this important challenge of seeking a solution and a path to respond to the needs of the Guatemalan population, which are not very different from those of the countries of our region”, noted the president of WONCA Iberoamericana, Dr Ponzo.
Family and Community Medicine is a discipline that has a wide field ofknowledge, which will strengthen the first level of care of the Ministry of Health and Social Security, with the support of strategic allies, with whom we have worked shoulder to shoulder. to improve the health system in the country.
In addition to the authorities, the representative of the inter-institutional technical board of family and community medicine, Dr Julio Valdés; among other important guests.
With information of igssgt.org