UEMO Spring General Assembly 2026 – Key Outputs
UEMO held its Spring General Assembly in Luxembourg, on 5 and 6 June, with the presence of delegations from 23 countries, observers from two countries and representatives from three European Medical Organizations (European Council of Medical Orders, European Union of Medical Specialists, Standing Committee of European Doctors).
Candan Kendir, a trained general practitioner / family physician now working in the OECD, gave an authoritative keynote speech on harmonising terminology, coding and data across Europe. She explained that if we want stronger primary care, we need better primary care data, and if we want better data, we need data systems that reflect reality.
Stéphanie Obertin, Minister of Research and Higher Education of Luxembourg and also a trained general practitioner / family physician, gave a keynote speech where she announced that the government has just approved the draft law that recognises General Practice / Family Medicine as a medical specialty earlier this week. Member of the European Parliament Tilly Metz also gave a keynote speech where she acknowledged that general practitioners / family physicians are not valued enough and that healthcare systems would colapse overnight with an adequate general practice / family medicine workforce. The Minister of Health Martine Deprez was not able to be present in person but we were able to see a vídeo message sent by her office where she mentioned the “I love my general practitioner” campaign launched in 2025 to encourage people to consult first with their GP.
Three statements were approved at the General Assembly:
– UEMO statement on safeguarding the highest standards of training and qualification for Europe’s General Practitioners/Family Physicians
– UEMO statement on Inappropriate Physician substitution
– UEMO Principles to support women working in medicine
New statutory provisions were approved allowing the reelection of Board members for a single additional mandate.
The Plenary also voted favourably regarding the admission of the Latvian Association of Rural Family Physicians, as full members, with immediate effect. The Turkish Association of Family Physicians (TAHUD) was also admitted as an observer for the period of one year.
Dr Roman Romero Ortuno, who presides to the UEMS section on geriatric medicine (UEMS-GMS) gave a presentation to propose a collaboration between UEMO and UEMS-GMS to repeat and adapt a survey carried out within the UEMS and that explored knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and educational needs regarding frailty among non-geriatric specialists caring for older adults across Europe. The collaboration would entail adapting and repeating this survey within the European general practice/family medicine community.
Dr Gindrovel Dumitra, from Romania, was elected as internal auditor.
The next UEMO general assembly will take place on 30-31 October in Óbidos, Portugal.
