On Friday 26/09/2024, during WONCA Europe (WE) Conference, WE President Prof. Shlomo Vinker, WE President-elect Prof Thomas Friese and WE member-at-large Dr. Ferdinando Petrazzuoli held a meeting with the European Forum for Primary Care (EFPC) Chair Dr. Maria van den Muisenbergh
Dr Muijsenbergh had been very active as an observer at the WONCA Europe Council meeting held the day before.
She explained that EFPC was established as network organisation in 2005 and is a formal association under Dutch law since 2011. In June 2024, it consisted of 82 institutional members and 36 individual members from diverse professional backgrounds and countries. The EFPC’s conferences, webinars and development of Position Papers are main activities. The EFPC is involved in 5 EU funded projects (BE-WELL, RAPIDE, Support4Resilience, coOPERATOR and ONCODIR). She also introduced their scientific journal (primary healthcare development and research)
She introduced EFPC 's structure, strategy, research projects and main topics that EFPC targets for the coming years.
Prof. Vinker and Prof. Friese presented WONCA Europe and its Networks, Special Interest Groups and Working Parties, Future plan 2023-2027, research projects, Web page, newsletters and social media, and invited her to visit WE booth in WONCA village.
They discussed ways of cooperation, included the scientific journal of both societies, and future joint working groups on topics such as doctors' health and burnout, the shortage of workforce and the recognition of Family Medicine as a specialty. This can be done as a part of our WE talk series.
This is an essential step for future cooperation between the two bodies for the recognition and influence of family medicine in Europe.
