WONCA Europe Newsletter May 2020: Happy World Family Doctor Day!
Dear WONCA Europe members, chairmans and presidents of our member organisations, networks and special interest groups, dear family doctors all around WONCA Europe region.
We are proud to present the 2nd newsletter of WE, and this time a special edition to the 10th World Family Doctor day.
You will find in the newsletter, a letter from our president Prof. Ungan dedicated to this day. And as we promised in every edition we will tell you about one of our member organisations – this time the RCGP from the UK, our largest member and about EQUIP – our network for quality and patient safety. It is an opportunity to call all our members to send materials to SecretariatEurope@wonca.net, interesting stories and reflections for our upcoming editions. In times that we start to see a stabilisation and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic it is time to summarise our critical place as family doctors in the epidemic and to think lessons we learned for the future.
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' LetterDear Members, Dear Colleagues 10th World Family Doctor Day celebration is in May 19. It was first declared by the World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA) in 2010. It is a day to highlight the role and contribution of family doctors in healthcare systems worldwide. The primary care slightly changed but playing a very important role, may be more than ever nowadays due to COVID-19 pandemics. We quickly adapted to a new reality and work in the frontline, despite the lack of PC guidelines, lack of PPE especially at the beginning, and sometimes in fear with the health of our patients, our families and naturally ourselves. WONCA Europe is representing Family Doctors in Europe. As the President, me and my executive board members want to highlight the importance of primary care as a pillar of health care in Europe also during this pandemic. We want to honour our colleagues in Europe and give them appreciation. We will never forget those health professionals who passed away while trying to stop this viral infection. They are our heroes. Science is the only truth and while leading our PHC team we are truly following it for putting the “health for all” target of the WHO into the practice. Congratulations to you all for our day, stay proud and united. Do not forget, together we shall overcome. Sincerely, |
The Academy for Science and Continuing Education in Diabetes and Obesity (ASCEND)ASCEND is a CME-accredited programme designed to improve the care of people living with diabetes and obesity worldwide. Led by an international faculty, ASCEND provides practical, independent content about diabetes and weight management for medical practitioners. Content is tailored to primary care. Watch experts including patients, share their clinical insights, talk through case studies, address frequently asked questions, and much more! Wonca Europe has recently partnered with ASCEND to review and endorse some of it's educational activities. Click here to access this content. |
By Prof. Mike Holmes Greetings to our European colleagues! The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is delighted to be invited to contribute to the WONCA Europe newsletter. Having been established in 1952, we are the largest college in Europe and one of the three largest in the world, with 53,000 members from across almost 100 countries. Our motto is ‘cum scientia, caritas’ or “compassion underpinned by knowledge’ and we truly believe that family medicine delivers patient-centred evidence-based care, which is more evident in times such as now. Naturally, the focus is now on COVID-19... Click here to read the rest of this article on our website. |
By Ulrik Bak Kirk, EQuiP Manager The aim of EQuiP is to contribute to the achievement of high levels of quality and safety of care for patients in general practice in all European countries. EQuiP will endeavour to achieve this by offering a structure for collaboration and exchange of knowledge, expertise and methodology – and by initiating international projects within quality and patient safety. Click here to read the rest of this article on our website. |
WONCA World COVID-19 Webinars
WONCA World is hosting a series of webinars listed on their website. The next one is on Sunday, 17 May at 10am UTC, the subject is "Rural Practice".