Dear WONCA Europe members, chairmans and presidents of our member organisations, networks and special interest groups, dear family doctors all around WONCA Europe region.
This newsletter will find some of you in your summer vacations while others are still facing the COVID-19 pandemic first or second wave. The pandemic has changed our lives as individuals and as doctors; we now have different professional and social lives; those that are on vacation will do it differently than in previous years since international traffic and travel are still limited.
This month, we present the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC). We also would like to present the European Rural and Isolated Practitioners Association (EURIPA) and a reminder that the EURIPA virtual conference will take place in September 2020.
It is an opportunity to call on all our members to send materials, such as interesting stories and reflections, to the SecretariatEurope@wonca.net for our upcoming editions. We ask you to send the newsletter to all your members and to put it on your website / Facebook / Twitter homepage.
Yours,
On behalf of WONCA Europe Executive Board
Sonia Tsukagoshi, VdGM, Member at large
Shlomo Vinker, President Elect of WONCA Europe
WONCA Europe Newsletter Editors
Presidents' Letter - Ibn- I Sina (AVICENNA) and Research
Dear Members, Dear Colleagues
Also popularly known as 'Avicenna', Ibn-I Sina was indeed a true polymath with his contributions ranging from medicine, psychology and pharmacology to geology, physics, astronomy, chemistry and philosophy. His most important contribution to medical science was his famous book Al Qanun Fi Al-Tibb (The Canon of Medicine). Until the 18th century, he provided research-based knowledge to clinical practice. Thinking of medical practice, his greatest contribution was probably in the philosophy of medicine. He created a system of medicine that today we would call “holistic” and in which physical and psychological factors, drugs, and diet were combined in treating patients.
AVICENNA put two lambs in separate cages. Lambs were the same age and the same weight, and fed with the same food. All conditions were equal. However, at the same time, there was a wolf in the third cage. Only one lamb could see the wolf but not the other lamb. Click here to read the rest of this article on our website.
Upcoming Events
The European Conference of Family Doctors (organised by DEGAM, WONCA member)
December 17-19, 2020, Berlin - Germany
First Rural Health e-Forum
September 18-19, 2020, Online Event
90th EGPRN Meeting
October 16-17, 2020, Online Event
Featured MO: The Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine
By Prof. Dr. Josep M. Vilaseca
The Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC) is a scientific-medical organization whose main goal is to contribute to the effectiveness, efficiency, feasibility and equity of the National Health System through the development of Family and Community Medicine, promoting excellence through a wide range of services which aim to meet the needs and expectations of Family and Community Doctors, as well as to provide them with innovation tools and quality training so that they can improve, and all of that by integrating our actions with a whole Federation of 17 Scientific Societies. Click here to read the rest of this article on our website.
Featured Network: EURIPA
By Pr Jean-Pierre Jacquet
Rural Family Doctors from across Europe met in 1995 and 1996, and then in 1997 EURIPA was formally established. Formal recognition as a network of WONCA Europe followed.
Rural and isolated doctors are represented by EURIPA but as primary care is developing we also have members who are working in public health, other health professionals including nurses. Being remote from acute and emergency centres team working is especially important for rural doctors.