The International Conference on the Future of Primary Health Care will focus on the necessity of co-operation, integration and organisation of primary care as a basis for patient-oriented, quality-driven and cost effective health care.

The ageing of societies, an increase in chronic illness, new developments in medical technology/ICT, and concerns about the quality of health care tend to cause a sharp rise in health care costs in all European countries. As a result, most countries in Europe are reshaping their healthcare systems toward a more market oriented approach.

At the same time, many primary care initiatives are blossoming at the local level. Mainstream health care and health policy often are not oriented toward supporting and developing primary care. This presents a formidable challenge for those who are involved in practice and policy; for strong, organised and accessible primary care can improve the population's health against lower costs.

undertaking in primary care

The exchange of new ideas, insights, solutions and interesting experiences from different countries between primary care professionals, researchers, policymakers and health service managers, is one of the main goals of this international conference.

As we define primary health care in terms of co-operation and community care, we wish to invite primary health care professionals and health politicians of various disciplines to attend this conference: general practitioners, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, pharmacists, social workers, community care workers, local authorities, researchers, etc.

For background information and articles about primary care, see European Forum for Primary Care.