Marking the International Women’s Day 2026 the European WONCA Working Party on Women and Family Medicine (WWPWFM) and EYFDM Special Interest Group (SIG) in Women’s Health made an amazing video highlighting the importance of Women’s Health.
See below and share:
On January 30 the EYFDM Council meet, worked on and approved the Statement on Family Medicine as a Speciality:
“EYFDM strongly supports the full recognition of Family Medicine/ General Practice as a medical speciality, within the European Union and the whole European Region.
EYFDM endorses the WONCA Europe Statement on the Recognition of the Speciality of Family Medicine/ General Practice in the European Region. We call for its inclusion in Directive 2005/36/EC, Annex 1.1.3 on the recognition of professional qualifications, alongside other medical specialities.
A common European framework, which reflects the diversity of Family Medicine across health systems, will ensure that the knowledge we obtain in the first years of our careers is qualitatively equivalent to our colleagues from surrounding countries. We aim to bring together trainees, trainers and policymakers to address the future needs of family doctors when designing a common curriculum.
Strengthening the position of Family Medicine in Europe is one of the EYFDM aims, and the recognition of Family Medicine as a speciality means taking a step further towards this goal.
This position is fully aligned as well with the UEMO and EJD’s “Murcia Declaration on the Future of General Practice and Family Medicine in European Healthcare”, which highlights the crucial role of Family Medicine in ensuring accessible, and sustainable healthcare systems across Europe.”
The council also endorsed the WONCA Europe Statement on the Recognition of the Speciality of Family Medicine / General Practice in the European Region, as well as Climate Emergency Statement:
EYFDM acknowledges that:
● The climate emergency is a global ecological and health emergency.
● The climate emergency is having and will continue to have health impacts that will worsen health inequalities.
● We have a commitment as a primary care organisation to raise awareness of the Climate Crisis and advocate for Planetary Health.Goals/ targets:
● One-health approach
● Promote low-carbon activities and health systems
● Incentivise campaigns and training for our members to raise awareness on climate crisis and related health emergencies.
● Partner with similar organisations and share common grounds.
● Develop specific policies supported by scientific evidence.
Amendments to the EYFDM Bylaws were also approved regarding participation in SIGs, nomination of proxy, ties in voting and update in the logo description and use of EYFDM name.
The Council also approved a budget amendment to increase funding for bursaries in 2026, after the generous donation of from the Luxembourg HOC of 4500 euros.
The accessibility guidelines were also approved to improve the experience for all members at EYFDM events.
Lastly some updates about upcoming events were shared, such as WONCA Europe Paris 2026, the 11th EYFDM Forum Malaga, Spain (registration and abstract submission are now open) as well as the collaboration with EuroPrev Madrid with a pre-forum.
We started 2026 showcasing some opportunities within EYFDM including the roles of ND and executive, exchanges, awards, bursaries, bridge project and more.
Recap the opportunities below:
The Council of the European Young Family Doctors Movement (EYFDM) welcomes WONCA’s statement on protecting health workers and patients in conflict zones (1). We stand fully behind its call to uphold medical neutrality, protect healthcare staff, and guarantee access to food, water, and essential medical supplies.
As per previous statements from Wonca Europe, and across the medical community, we continue to denounce the Russian attacks in Ukraine, including the targeting of civilians and health care facilities. We also join WONCA in denouncing the human rights atrocities and attacks on civilians, aid, displacement camps and medical facilities in the war in Sudan.
At the same time, we stress that the systematic destruction of the healthcare system in Gaza is without precedent in its scale and intent. More than 1500 healthcare workers have been killed, many more detained or displaced, and hospitals and ambulances repeatedly targeted. Essential medical supplies are deliberately obstructed.(2) We also call for release of all hostages and to stop all unlawful detention and mistreatment. These acts constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law and, as the International Court of Justice has noted, may fall within the scope of the Genocide Convention.(3)
While attacks on healthcare sadly occur in many conflicts, Gaza represents a unique and urgent threat to the very foundations of humanitarian law and medical ethics. As young doctors, we have a moral duty to directly address this humanitarian crisis.
We therefore call upon WONCA and all its member associations to utilize their diplomatic channels and professional networks to advocate for full compliance with international humanitarian law. In particular, we urge WONCA to continue engaging constructively with all relevant medical associations, including those in conflict-affected regions, in order to encourage clear institutional positions and the advocacy of the immediate cessation of any actions targeting healthcare workers and medical facilities. When member associations do not demonstrate active commitment to these fundamental principles, we believe WONCA should consider appropriate institutional measures, to uphold the integrity of its core values. Ensuring accountability for violations and advocating effectively with governmental and international bodies remain essential to protecting the right to health. WONCA’s influence stems not only from its principles, but from the collective strength it can mobilize through its global network of professional associations.
As medical professionals, we must address with clarity the humanitarian situation in Gaza and other conflict zones. When professional institutions remain silent in the face of systematic violations, such actions not only persist but risk becoming normalized—undermining healthcare systems globally and affecting populations across all nations. Institutional silence carries the risk of inadvertent complicity. As the European Young Family Doctors Movement (EYFDM), we reaffirm our commitment to universal medical principles and call upon the global medical community to stand united in protecting healthcare as a fundamental human right.
Statement on Protecting Health Workers and Patients in All Conflict Zones, Including Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan
28 August 2025
In recent global conflicts, there have been hundreds of attacks on health facilities, ambulances, and medical staff. Many hospitals have been forced to close, leaving patients without treatment, and local primary care providers risk their lives to provide even the most basic health services. Estimates say that a thousand or more health workers in Gaza alone were killed, while others face detention or displacement.1
Protecting healthcare personnel is not optional: it is a moral and legal obligation that transcends borders, politics, and conflicts. WONCA stands in solidarity with health personnel everywhere, particularly those operating in the most challenging and dangerous environments.
WONCA continues to join other leading civil society organizations amongst the health care community in urging all sides in conflicts to:
- Ensure the Safety of Health Personnel: Establish and enforce protocols that protect healthcare personnel, patients and facilities, particularly in conflict zones.
- Respect Medical Neutrality: Uphold the sanctity of healthcare as a nonpartisan and noncombatant activity.
- Strengthen Support Systems: Provide resources and psychosocial support to health personnel who risk their lives to serve communities in crisis.
The impact of these conflicts on local populations is also devastating: safe childbirth, treatment for chronic conditions, and even basic emergency care are increasingly out of reach. This is now compounded by famine conditions in several conflict zones, including Gaza and Sudan. Blockages to the delivery of medical supplies and humanitarian aid, combine with destruction of food and water supplies to push entire communities to a state of famine. With sanitation systems collapsing, waterborne diseases threaten to cause a second wave of preventable deaths. Denying people access to adequate food and clean water is a violation of international humanitarian law and a direct assault on human dignity.
In every conflict, care comes first—and so must the fundamental right to food, water, and health.
WONCA makes an urgent call to:
- Address escalating famine and disease in conflict zones: Rapid and unhindered delivery of medical supplies and humanitarian aid following global standards for aid distribution, including adequate food and clean water, in conflict zones is urgent.
- Enforce international humanitarian law: Ensure respect for civilians and protect those not actively participating in hostilities by proactively limiting the effects of armed conflict on civilian populations.
- Prioritize ceasefires wherever and whenever possible: Aggressively pursue humanitarian ceasefires as an initial step towards resolving all conflicts, including in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan.
- Release all hostages and stop all unlawful detention and mistreatment.
WONCA urges governments, international organizations, and humanitarian agencies to act without delay. All parties must ensure safe corridors for the delivery of food, water, and medical care. Accountability must follow for those who violate humanitarian law. The survival and dignity of millions depend on urgent global action.
1Health and aid workers targeted in conflicts around the world, UN agency says. (2025, August 23). UN News.
Happy World Family Doctor Day!
WEBINAR SERIES: In the lead-up to World Family Doctor Day, Monday 19 May 2025, WONCA’s Working Party on Mental Health is proud to present a global webinar series exploring the central role of family doctors in mental health care. These sessions reflect our campaign’s theme Building Mental Resilience in a Changing World and reinforce the message that primary health care is uniquely positioned to foster mental wellness. The series will explore how family doctors care not only for their patients, but also for themselves and one another.
Topics range from culturally sensitive approaches to mental health, to collaboration between doctors and patients, to core concepts that help clinicians and communities navigate adversity—such as coherence, suffering and hope, and the pursuit of meaningful well-being. A special session will spotlight the MDD Minds project, which has empowered thousands of primary care professionals to better manage depression and prioritize their own resilience. Join us and discover how family doctors, when supported and connected, are catalysts for healing across communities.
Self-Care for Family Doctors
Resilience Building and Mental Awareness (with WONCA Young Doctors’ Movement)
Date: Sunday, 18 May. Time: 14:00 UTC.
Working Together for Change
How Family Doctors and Patients Can Improve Mental Health (with World Patients Alliance)
Date: Monday, 19 May. Time: 12:00 UTC.
Key Concepts for Mental Resilience
Suffering and Hope; Coherence and Engagement; Eudaemonia and Ataraxia
Date: Monday, 19 May. Time: 16:00 UTC.
Cultural Approaches to Mental Health
Tailoring Solutions to Local Communities (with International Federation of Medical Student Associations)
Date: Tuesday, 20 May. Time: 10:00 UTC.
Addressing Depression in Primary Health Care
Lessons from the MDD Minds Project
Date: Wednesday, 21 May. Time: 13:00 UTC.
FEATURED DOCTOR: This special World Family Doctor Day edition features Dr Sunil Abraham, a family doctor and faculty member at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India. In this interview, recorded at the WONCA South Asia Regional Conference 2025, he shares personal insights from working with underserved communities in India and Australia, and reflects on the emotional challenges of a career in medicine, and the importance of self-care, spiritual grounding, and mental resilience for family doctors.
Check the WONCA Playlist including President’s message and a performance of Three Little Birds, from Bob Marley and the Wailers performed by family doctors from across the globe:
Donate here to support WONCA functions.
RUN WITH WONCA: As we count down to World Family Doctor Day 2025, we’re inviting the global WONCA community to lace up and get moving together. Physical activity is one of the simplest, most powerful tools we have to support our mental wellness – and it’s even better when we do it as a community. That’s why we’ve launched the WONCA Running Club on Strava.
Join our Running Club: Strava is a mobile app that lets you track your runs, walks, or bike rides using your phone or smartwatch. It’s also a social platform where you can join clubs, follow friends, and cheer each other on. This year’s campaign theme is Building Mental Resilience in a Changing World. Our WONCA running club is a fun, low-pressure way to care for your own mental health, connect with colleagues, and feel part of a shared global movement. Join us here.
Dear EYFDMians’
We are reaching out to invite you to participate in a Survey on Working Hours for Junior Doctors, organised by the European Junior Doctors Association (EJD). EJD is a pan-European organisation representing junior doctors and advocating for better working conditions and training across Europe.
This survey aims to gather valuable insights into the working hours of junior doctors across Europe. The data collected will help us better understand the challenges faced and advocate for sustainable working conditions.
Survey link here: https://bit.ly/EJD-WorkingHours
(It only takes 1 minute to complete!)Your input is essential. By disseminating and fostering participation, you’ll contribute to shaping policies that support doctors.
Feel free to share this survey with your colleagues—every response makes a difference!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Thank you for your time and support!
The collaborative webinar between EYFDM and WWPWFM, “Violence against female doctors”, held on 8 Dec 2024 has been uploaded. The webinar was organised by WONCA’s Women’s Health Special Interest Group and the European Network of Young Doctors’ Movement. It was moderated by Helena Alonso (EYFDM Policy Officer) as the past chair of the Women’s Health Special Interest Group.
Violence against women doctors is a serious and widespread problem that affects women all over the world. This webinar explores the issue from a global perspective, with speakers from Nigeria, Colombia, and the UK. The webinar discusses the prevalence of violence against women doctors, the impact of this violence on their work and well-being, and actionable solutions to create safer and more supportive medical workplaces.
During the webinar we got to hear from several experts, including Dr. Tehzeeb Zulfiqar from Pakistan and currently at Australian National University Pakistan, Dr. Rimola Silva from Nigeria, Dr. Alejandra Leon from Colombia, and Dr. Mary Robertson from the UK. The speakers discussed the prevalence of violence against women doctors in their respective countries, the impact of this violence on their work and well-being, and strategies for prevention and response. The webinar also highlighted the importance of data collection and research to better understand the scope of the problem and develop effective interventions.
Watch the recording of the webinar and learn more about how to address this important issue.
Dear EYFDM Members,
We are pleased to announce that we have two upcoming vacancies on the EYFDM Executive. Stuart Holmes will finish his Presidency in 2025, so a new President Elect will be elected this year. Ana Cristina Franco Spinola’s term as Policy Officer is also ending, and while she is unsure if she will restand, we encourage applications. Please click on the links below to read more about the role descriptions.
– President Elect
– Policy Officer
The elections will take place in September.
The following documents are required:
See EYFDM Elections Policy which details the full eligibility criteria and the required documents to apply.
Applications are now open, the deadline to apply is 27th August 2024.
To apply, ask questions or get more information, please email secretary.
Dear colleagues, Happy World Family Doctor Day!
This year we celebrate with the theme:
Watch this great video by Wonca World below and be sure to share it.
If you haven’t yet be sure to check the Planetary Health Repository, full of resources and information to help you make this year theme a reality.
Aligned with this year theme and the 2023 WONCA Europe’s Family Medicine Definition, three members of the executive, with two other family doctors, published an article on Sustainable Healthcare Knowledge and WONCA Europe’s New Family Medicine Definition.
Advocating for urgent global issues is only possible if adequate knowledge is possessed and effectively communicated. Raising awareness on the new definition of Family Medicine by WONCA Europe is therefore pivotal to positively impact our communities, patients, and the environment.
Spínola ACF, Humay Arman I, Bentounsi Z, Cordovil C, Gökdemir Ö. WONCA Europe’s New Family Medicine Definition and Sustainable Healthcare Knowledge. AJFAMED 2024;7(1):44–45
The European Definition Of General Practice / Family Medicine – Wonca Europe 2023 Edition
