On Friday 27/09/2024, during WONCA Europe (WE) Conference, WE President Prof. Shlomo Vinker and WE member-at-large Prof. Adam Windak held a meeting with European Union of General Practitioners (UEMO) Honorary Secretary Dr Catarina Maties
Dr Maties had previously taken part as an observer at the WONCA Europe Council meeting held 25/10/2024.
Dr Maties thanked WE for its active role in the Autumn General Assembly held in Murcia (Spain) 26-27th October 2023, where they approved the Murcia Declaration on the future of general practice and family Medicine in European healthcare. https://www.woncaeurope.org/news/view/wonca-europe-at-the-uemo-general-assembly-murcia-26-27-10-2023
She introduced UEMO's structure, strategy, activities, projects and main topics that UEMO targets for the coming years. Prof. Vinker and Prof. Windak 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 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 is an essential step for future cooperation between the two bodies for the recognition and influence of family medicine in Europe.
Dr Maties invited WE to attend their next General Assembly that would be held in Brussels, on the 18th-19th October 2024, a joint meeting with The European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS: Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes.
