Representatives of Europe’s family doctors were briefed first-hand on the achievements of the “Thank You, Doctor!” campaign (ThankYouDoctor.org) during the general assembly of the European Union of General Practitioners and Family Doctors (UEMO), held October 18-19 in Brussels.
Delegations from 21 countries and four European medical organizations (European Junior Doctors, European Federation of Salaried Doctors, Standing Committee of European Doctors and European Young Family Doctors Movement) participated in the meeting.
The campaign was presented by Dr. Jordi Serrano-Pons, founder of UniversalDoctor, advisor to international organizations on global health and scientific director of the “Thank You, Doctor!” campaign.
The presentation of the campaign “which aims to increase the visibility of the important role played by family doctors”, has been included in the final document of conclusions issued by the UEMO.
The European Union of Family Doctors (UEMO) is a non-profit organization that brings together the most representative national, non-governmental and independent organizations of family doctors in the countries of Europe.
Founded in 1967 by the national organizations of Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, the Union rapidly grew to encompass organizations from all the current Member States of the European Union, as well as from the countries of the European Free Trade Association and other European countries.
UEMO, currently chaired by Dr. Tiago Villanueva of Portugal, aims to “promote the highest standards of training, practice and patient care in the field of general practice/family medicine throughout Europe and to defend the role of general practitioners/family doctors in the healthcare system,” as it explains on its website Uemo.eu.
“Thank You, Doctor!” (ThankYouDoctor.org) is a global campaign that seeks to value the humanizing role played by the primary care physician, also known as the family doctor, in the healthcare system and in society.
The “Thank You, Doctor!” campaign, initiated by the non-profit medical association SOMOS Community Care in New York, is now supported by more than 33 medical organizations from different countries, as well as civil society institutions, and more than 1.1 million people.