The 3rd African and Pan-Arab Congress of General Medicine, in conjunction with the 9th National Congress of General Medicine, is taking place this Thursday in Algiers, Algeria. The congress aims to enhance practitioners’ knowledge and underscore the significance of this medical specialty.
“The event unites national participants alongside representatives from various African and Arab countries, with the primary objective of advancing the knowledge of practitioners across all 58 provinces,” stated Dr. Abdelkader Tafat, president of the Algerian Society of General Medicine (SAMG), the organizing body behind the congress.
He specifically highlighted the attendance of the presidents of the African Society of General Medicine and Family Medicine, the Arab League of General Medicine Societies, as well as leaders from scientific societies representing the participating nations.
In addition to focusing on the ongoing education of general practitioners, this comprehensive event will also “address the role of this specialty within the national health system,” he added.
“The importance of the general practitioner and family doctor must be further emphasized. Patients should consult them first before approaching specialists. This is a recommendation from the WHO, which asserts that 80% of care can be provided through primary healthcare,” he argued.
Dr. Tafat noted that “this approach benefits patients by enhancing the quality and affordability of their care while alleviating the economic burden on the healthcare system.”
Furthermore, he announced that a specialized commission was established last April by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to develop “a specialized curriculum in general medicine, expected to be implemented in the 2025-2026 academic year.”
It is notable that throughout the three days of this scientific gathering, a series of workshops, plenary sessions, and thematic discussions will take place, covering various subjects including the regulatory and ethical aspects of general medical practice, artificial intelligence (AI), primary care, and more.
