WONCA Europe Newsletter
April 2026
Editor’s Preface: Strengthening the Fabric of Family Medicine 
Dear Colleagues,
As we move through April 2026, the primary care landscape in Europe continues to evolve with remarkable speed. This edition of our newsletter reflects the dual nature of our current journey: honoring the foundational values of general practice—such as continuity, mentorship, and person-centered care—while embracing the innovations that will define our future. 
Quality, Mentorship, and the Human Connection 
This month, we place a special focus on the people who drive our profession forward. We are proud to feature insightful interviews with Prof. Dr. Dorien Zwart and Dr. Sıdıka Ece Yokuş, both of whom offer profound perspectives on bridging intergenerational gaps and rethinking mentorship in an increasingly complex clinical environment. This focus on the "human" side of family medicine is further explored in our conversations with Joel Lehmann and Dr. Anees Alyafei, who examine how quality improvement and stress management can restore joy to our daily work. 
Clinical Leadership and Research Excellence 
Our clinical and advocacy work remains robust across the region:
-
Prevention First: We are delighted to introduce Prof. Dr. Serdar Öztora as the new EUROPREV Chair. In our featured interview, he discusses his role as the "safekeeper" of prevention. This milestone arrives alongside the new EUROPREV position paper and the successful 30th-anniversary celebration of the EUROPREV Forum in Madrid.
️
- Specialized Care: From WONCA Europe’s presence at the European Association of Urology Congress to a landmark study on prostate cancer screening barriers, we are advancing shared decision-making in oncology.
-
Continuity and Research: We are excited to highlight EGPRN Verona 2026, featuring an interview with Dr. Giulio Rigon on the vital future of continuity of care.
-
National Milestones: We celebrate a major step forward in Türkiye
with updated primary care diagnosis and treatment guidelines.
Innovation, Strategy, and Community 
Looking ahead, we tackle the digital frontier in "Future-Proofing the GP," exploring whether AI can serve as a catalyst for professional satisfaction. 
We also highlight our recent engagement in Rome regarding social prescribing, reminding us that tackling loneliness and building community ties are as vital to health as any clinical intervention. 
️
Finally, for those interested in our internal progress and organizational governance, we have included the Summary of the WONCA Europe Executive Board meeting held on April 13, 2026, detailing our ongoing strategic initiatives. 
I invite you to explore these updates, alongside the latest opportunities from EYFDM and news highlights from WHO/Europe, as we continue to strengthen the fabric of primary care together. 
Please keep updated visiting our web page and follow us on our X (@WoncaEurope), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky accounts.
 |
 |
On behalf of WONCA Europe Executive Board, Ioanna Tsiligianni, President-elect |
President’s Corner: Spring Update 🌷
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
As we move into spring, I would like to briefly reflect on our shared progress and set out priorities for the months ahead. Over the past year, we have continued to strengthen primary care’s voice across Europe—advocating for equitable access, workforce investment, and the central role of family medicine in responding to complex health challenges, from ageing populations to the climate and digital transitions.
The recent 4th Medical Education Conference of EURACT was a significant highlight in this context. I am incredibly proud of how our networks, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), and member organisations have sustained community‑focused care while actively engaging policymakers at both national and EU levels.
Championing Workforce Resilience Workforce resilience remains our top priority. We must promote attractive, sustainable career pathways for family physicians, support high‑quality postgraduate training, and champion multidisciplinary team models that reduce burnout while improving continuity of care. WONCA Europe will continue to press for concrete national and EU measures to:
- Fund essential training places.
- Protect and improve working conditions. ️
- Embed family medicine leadership at the heart of health‑system planning.
️
Navigating the Digital and Climate Transitions 
Digital health and data should serve people and strengthen the therapeutic relationship, not replace it. We are advocating for interoperable, user‑centred systems, digital literacy for both clinicians and patients, and robust privacy protections that still permit the responsible use of data for quality improvement and research. 
Equally urgent is our commitment to planetary health. Primary care must lead on prevention, adaptation, and community resilience. To support this, we will expand practical guidance to help clinicians reduce the environmental footprint of healthcare delivery. 
Looking Ahead: Join Us in Paris 
I encourage you to engage with WONCA Europe’s working groups and advocacy campaigns. Please continue to share case studies from your own countries; your frontline experience is our strongest evidence and our most powerful fuel for change.
I also warmly invite you to join colleagues at the upcoming WONCA Europe Conference in Paris. This will be a vital space to exchange ideas, showcase best practices, and strengthen our professional bonds.
Full details and registration information are available on the WONCA Europe website. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our initiatives to date. Your commitment is what makes our collective voice so effective. 
 |
Warm regards, Thomas Frese |
News
The "Safekeeper" of Prevention: An Interview with Prof. Dr. Serdar Öztora, New EUROPREV ChairFollowing the landmark EUROPREV Forum in Madrid, which celebrated 30 years of the network’s dedication to evidence-based health promotion, a new chapter begins. Prof. Dr. Serdar Öztora (Türkiye) has officially... |
Summary of WONCA Europe Executive Board online meeting 13/04/2026The WONCA Europe Executive Board met online on 13. April 2026 to review governance, research, finance, communications, and upcoming events. The Board discussed growing involvement in multiple EU-funded research projects and the need... |
🚀 Future-Proofing the GP: Can AI Restore the Joy of General Practice? 🩺✨As we approach the 68th EQuiP Conference in Kraków (21–23 May 2026), we are thrilled to feature an exclusive "Expert Spotlight" with Dr. Abraham Thomas, a GP from Spalding, England, and a pioneer in clinical... |
EYFDM News and Opportunities! 27.04.2026JOIN... |
WE and the WE SIG on Social Prescribing and Community Orientation in an International Conference in Rome: Community, Loneliness and Social PrescribingThe conference "Community, Loneliness, and Social Prescribing," held on April 22, 2026, at Sapienza University of Rome, represented an important milestone for the presentation and discussion of the Italian Recommendations on Social... |
WONCA Europe Leaders Co-Author Landmark Study on Barriers to Population-Based Prostate Cancer ScreeningAs European Member States continue to evaluate the feasibility of population-based prostate cancer (PCa) screening, a landmark study published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine remains a critical roadmap of the obstacles... |
A Conversation with Dr. Anees Alyafei: Bridging the Stress Gap in Primary Care at the 68th EQUIP Conference 2026 🇶🇦We are proud to announce that Dr. Anees Alyafei will be a featured workshop leader at the upcoming 68th EQUIP Conference 2026 in Kraków. His session, "Evidence-Based Stress Management in Family Medicine: Clinical Assessment and... |
EGPRN Verona 2026: An Interview with Dr. Giulio Rigon on the Future of Continuity of Care 🏥✨As the European primary care community prepares for the 102nd EGPRN Meeting in Verona (14–17 May 2026), we sat down with Dr. Giulio Rigon, Chair of the Organizing Committee and Italian National Representative of EGPRN. In this interview,... |
In Conversation with Joel Lehmann: Reimagining Quality Improvement as a Driver of Joy in Work 🩺✨KRAKÓW, POLAND – As we count down to 21–23 May 2026, the spotlight turns to a session designed to flip the script on quality management. This year’s theme, "Strengthening the Heart of Primary Care: Well-being and... |
EUROPREV Forum Madrid 2026: Celebrating 30 Years of Person-Centred PreventionThe 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... |
Optimising Prevention in General Practice: New EUROPREV Position PaperThe increasing volume of preventive services is putting unprecedented pressure on primary care. In a new position paper, EUROPREV proposes seven guiding principles to help GPs and family doctors navigate the complexities of preventive care while... |
Rethinking Mentorship: A Conversation with EQuiP 2026 Keynote Speaker Dr. Sıdıka Ece Yokuş 🩺✨Ahead of the 68th EQuiP Conference in Kraków, Poland 🇵🇱, we spoke with keynote speaker Dr. Sıdıka Ece Yokuş, a Family Medicine Specialist from Istanbul, Türkiye 🇹🇷. In this candid discussion, she shares her vision for a digitally... |
WHO/Europe News highlights: April 2026SECOND EUROPEAN PROGRAMME OF WORK WHO’s Humanitarian Bridge Initiative in Cyprus... |
Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Perspectives with Prof. Dr. Dorien Zwart An Interview with the President of EQuiP on Quality, Mentorship, and SafeAs the 68th EQuiP Conference in Kraków (May 2026) approaches, the focus is firmly on the "Heart of Primary Care." In this exclusive feature, Prof. Dr. Dorien Zwart—President of EQuiP and Professor of Family... |
A Major Step Toward Strengthening Primary Care in Türkiye: Updated Diagnosis and Treatment GuidelinesTürkiye has undertaken a significant step toward reinforcing its primary care system through the comprehensive revision of the Primary Care Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines. Developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Health and the... |
WONCA Europe at the European Association of Urology Congress 2026: Advancing Shared Decision- Making and Health Literacy in Bladder Cancer CareAt the 41st Annual European Association of Urology Congress (EAU26), held in London, United Kingdom, from 13–16 March 2026, WONCA Europe reinforced its commitment to integrated, patient-centered care through its active participation in the... |
Upcoming Events
 3rd CaReMeLO Conference 8-9 May 2026, Munich, Germany & Online |
 102nd EGPRN Meeting 14-17 May 2026, Verona, Italy |
 68th EQuiP Conference 21-23 May 2026, Kraków, Poland |
 13th IPCRG World Conference 11-14 June 2026, Tunis, Tunisia |
 Webinar: Lifestyle Medicine as a Clinical Tool for Type 2 Diabetes Remission 11 June 2026, Virtual |
 Webinar: Antibiotics in Pregnancy and Lactation 24 June 2026, Virtual |
 30th WONCA Europe Conference 30 June - 3 July 2026, Paris, France |
 PCDE 2026 Conference 10-12 September 2026, Istanbul / Türkiye Istanbul Dedeman Hotel |
 35th Janko Kersnik International EURACT Bled Course 23-26 September 2026, Bled, Slovenia |
 15th EURIPA Rural Health Forum 1-3 October 2026, Cartagena, Spain |
 PEACHD Final Dissemination Conference 14-16 October 2026, Prague |
 EURACT Leonardo Level 1 Course for Teachers in Family Medicine 22-24 October 2026, Dubrovnik, Croatia |
You may send your events and news articles directly to our website by logging into your Wonca Europe account. Please send other materials, such as interesting stories and reflections, to SecretariatEurope@wonca.net for our upcoming editions. We ask you to send the newsletter to all your colleagues and to share it on your website / Facebook / Twitter homepage.