Outcomes of the UEMO autumn general assembly, Brussels, October 2024

UEMO held its Autumn General Assembly in Brussels, on 18 and 19 October, with the presence of delegations from 21 countries and from four European Medical Organizations (European Junior Doctors, European Federation of Salaried Doctors, Standing Committee of European Doctors, European Young Family Doctors Movement). The meeting included two sessions held jointly with UEMS with moderators and speakers from both organizations, one focused on the recognition of general practice and family medicine and the other one on the implications of the introduction of physician assistants in healthcare for standards of practice and patient safety.

Alexandra Ongono Pomme, a policy officer at the Unit D1 of DG Grow of the European Commission, gave a keynote lecture on the key considerations around the professional qualifications Directive and general practice / family medicine, which set the scene for what will be required to eventually achieve the recognition of general practice / family medicine as a European specialty in the Annex 5.1.3 of the Directive.

Dr Jordi Serrano Pons, a family physician from Spain and entrepreneur, presented an overview about the “Thank you Doctor” campaign, which is aimed at increasing the visibility of the important role played by family doctors.

Dr Dragan Gjorgjievski, from the Republic of North Macedonia, was elected as Vice-President of UEMO for the mandate 2025-2028.

The Plenary voted favourably regarding the admission of the Polish College of Family Physicians as an observer for the period of one year.

The budget and fees for 2025 were approved.

Three statements were approved at the General Assembly:

– UEMO fully supports the introduction of the EU HTA Regulation and is committed to supporting a successful implementation.
– UEMO urges governments to pass legislation prohibiting Physician Assistants/Physician Associates from assessing and managing undifferentiated patients given implications for patient care and safety. A separate joint statement with UEMS is also in preparation.
– UEMO calls for the need to promote safer and healthier working environments for GP’s working in prisons, which includes the need for governments to ensure appropriate funding for prison healthcare and general practice in prison, the need for employing organizations to recognise the value and skills of GP’s working in prison and a request to organizations responsible for training GPs to promote the role as a career choice in training curricula.

An additional statement calling for the need to recognize general practice / family medicine as a specialty at the European level has been prepared and is expected to be endorsed by both UEMO and UEMS in coming months.