The EUROPREV Forum 2026, held in the vibrant city of Madrid from March 25–27, marked a historic milestone: the 30th anniversary of EUROPREV. Under the timely theme “Towards a safe and effective person-centred prevention,” the forum served as a critical meeting point for primary care professionals, researchers, and policymakers to redefine the future of preventive medicine.
Chaired by Laura Rodríguez-Benito and Carlos Brotons, SEMFYC delegates in EUROPREV, the event was a collaborative triumph involving EUROPREV, EYFDM, WONCA, WONCA Europe, SoMAMFyC and various national partners, ensuring a program that remained scientifically rigorous yet deeply rooted in the daily realities of family medicine.
A Global Gathering in Madrid
The forum hosted 132 registered participants from over 20 countries, representing a multidisciplinary cohort of family doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and academics. Elite institutions—including the Universities of Ghent, Porto, Imperial College London, Roehampton, Trakya, and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid—joined forces with representatives from the Spanish Ministry of Health and local councils.
The international spirit of the event was bolstered by contributors from Qatar, Israel, Brazil, Latvia, and beyond, whose participation underlined the global relevance of the challenges discussed. The meeting was also graced by distinguished leaders, including:
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María Pilar Astier Peña, WONCA World President-Elect.
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Javier Padilla, Spain’s Secretary of State for Health.
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Iona Heath, a leading voice in general practice ethics.
Tackling Overdiagnosis and Promoting Equity
A major focus of the forum was the critical examination of prevention. In his keynote, Carlos Martins (University of Porto) addressed the risks of overdiagnosis and "Too Much Prevention," urging a shift toward quaternary prevention and the ethical use of absolute risk and shared decision-making.
This was echoed by Iona Heath, who delivered a powerful keynote questioning the growing focus on individualised medical prevention at the expense of addressing poverty and inequality. She championed relationship-based, humane general practice and continuity of care as the ultimate preventive tools.
Innovation Through Collaboration and Education
Prevention was framed throughout the forum as a team-based, community-embedded activity. Key discussions highlighted:
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Interdisciplinary Teams: The essential contributions of community nurses, pharmacists, and primary care teams.
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The EUROPREV Position Paper: Serdar Öztora presented “Seven ways to optimise prevention in general practice and family medicine,” a roadmap for high-value, proportionate prevention.
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Future Generations: Dedicated sessions for trainees and young doctors focused on clinical judgment, ethics, and managing uncertainty rather than simple guideline compliance.
A New Era for EUROPREV
The forum also signalled a transition in leadership. During the Delegates’ Meeting, Serdar Öztora was confirmed as the new President of EUROPREV. The community also took a moment to warmly acknowledge Carlos Brotons, EUROPREV’s first President, following his retirement, celebrating his three decades of leadership during a gala dinner at Madrid’s Plaza Mayor.
A Forward-Looking Vision
The EUROPREV Forum 2026 concluded with a clear mandate: prevention must be critical rather than expansive, equitable rather than transactional, and ethically grounded rather than technology-driven. As EUROPREV enters its fourth decade, it reinforces its role within WONCA as a thoughtful, inclusive voice for safe, effective, and person-centred prevention.
The vision articulated in Madrid is one where prevention remains evidence-based, humane, and firmly rooted in the core values of primary care.