Inaugural Conference of the WONCA Region Europe : European Society of General Practice/Family Medicine (ESGP)

Abstract

The Malta College of Family Doctors, a founder-member of the WONCA Region Europe - European Society of General PracticejFamily Medicine, was represented by College President Dr Denis Soler MD FRCGP and Honorary Secretary Dr Mario R Sammut MD at the Society 's Inaugural Conference in the Hemicycle, the Meeting Room of the European Parliament, Strasbourg, France on the 6th and 7th October 1995. The idea of an ,umbrella academic society to coordinate all European organisations offamily medicine originated in Lenzburg, Switzerland, during a meeting in January 1993 initiated by SIMG, Societas Internationalis de Medicinae Generalis. In Collaboration with WONCA, the World Organisation of Family Doctors, a 'Group of Eight' was formed which, together with the European bodies responsible for teaching (the European Academy of Teachers in General Practice EURACT), for research (the European General Practice Research Workshop - EGPRW) and for quality assurance (the European Working Party on Quality in Family Practice - EQuiP) in family medicine, worked hard to create the structure of the European Society of General Practice/Family Medicine (ESGP) which was inaugurated in Strasbourg. Through its academic role, the Society will complement UEMO, the political body of family medicine in Europe.