WONCA Annual Report 2020 - 2021

W O N C A

PRESIDENT- ELECT REPORT 2020 - 2021

A different year! The pandemic changed the conditions for WONCA’s work, virtual communication became the working mode for the executive, and the only way to maintain contact with members and different parts of the organization as well as with external stakeholders. The pandemic has shown us the added value of physical meetings.

Regular contact several times a week between the president(P), president elect (P-E) and the CEO has been a prerequisite to deal with governance issues and the many legal and administrative issues related to the transition of the secretariat. It was good to take part in the selection process of secretariat staff; and I had the pleasure of visiting the secretariat in Brussels in early July. Good to meet our highly skilled officers in person!

Consequences of the postponement of the World Council last year and the planning of this year’s forthcoming virtual Council meeting has required a lot of attention. A big thank you to our president, the CEO and the secretariat staff for their leadership and team work. The pandemic has highlighted the important role of strong primary care and Family Medicine in preparedness and handling of health crisis, and the focus on advocacy on national, regional and global level has been strengthened over the last year.

AWARDS & NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

The P-E is chair of the committee, who is handling this year’s nominations for Fellowship and Life Direct Membership when this report is written. Equity in nominations is a challenge, related to geography and gender. Revision of policies and criteria for WONCA awards is on the agenda and is a work in progress.

ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE & ACCREDITATION

The P-E is also a member of the newly established accreditation committee. Through bimonthly meetings a framework for accreditation is under development, an important activity for WONCA. I took part in a virtual practice accreditation together with Garth Manning in February, and will conduct the physical visit when travel conditions permit it. A similar accreditation is planned for September.

WONCA WEBINARS

In autumn 2020, the second round of webinars was organised, experienced as an important arena for contact between WONCA members and leadership, not least in times of pandemic. Developing this arena is a priority in the time to come.

REGIONAL, NATIONAL & WP MEETINGS

It has been great to virtually meet members at several meetings and conferences during the last year, through live and video greetings and presentations at meetings organised by working parties (Rural and Planetary health), Young Doctor Movements (Rajakumar and Vasco da Gama).

Attendance at regional conferences has been another arena for virtual contact, and has provided valuable input. I have presented at several national meetings in the European region, and have presented at the two European conferences, which have been held over the last year.

It was also a pleasure to speak at the 25th anniversary of the academic department of Family Medicine in Ljubljana.

In virtual times, it is even more important to make sure that the WONCA World leadership takes part at national and regional meetings, in order to nourish the relationship between different parts of our organization, maintain our global network and build an international identity for Family Medicine.

EXTERNAL MEETINGS & WEBINARSThe pandemic has made it clear that good cooperation in health care is vital for health outcomes. In order to understand the different roles health professionals play, we must be in dialogue. It has been interesting to take part in webinars and meetings with other stakeholders at meetings with World Heart Federation and Global Coalition for Circulatory Health, European Forum for Primary Care Aprifel and the multistakeholder Primary Care Conference in Ljubljana in November.

I have also been invited to speak on Family Medicine in arenas of other stakeholders in my own region for policy makers and media. The main focus is as always to raise awareness of primary care and Family Medicine in a global perspective.

WOMEN IN GLOBAL HEALTH (WGH)

The relationship between WGH and WONCA is growing stronger. I have had the pleasure of speaking at two conferences/meetings organised by the European chapter and I attended a webinar organised by the African chapter of WGH.

WGH has launched the Gender Equal Health and Care Workforce Initiative this year, and the WP on Women in Family medicine is invited to explore how WONCA can actively engage.

WGH has launched the Gender Equal Health and Care Workforce Initiative this year, and the WP on Women in Family medicine is invited to explore how WONCA can actively engage.

OECD

I am still a member of the advisory board for the PaRIS survey; the meetings have naturally taken place online.

To achieve a valid outcome of the survey, it is important that WONCA members urge their national authorities and colleagues to take part when the survey is launched later this year.

For more information, see link: https://www.oecd.org/health/paris/

WHO

As usual, both president and president elect have taken part in liaising meetings alongside the WHO liaison, including the NSA meetings held in May in preparation for the virtual WHA. WHO is reorganising their interface with NSAs, and WONCA should reconsider our part accordingly.