EURIPA – THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Abstract

EURIPA (European Rural and Isolated Practitioners Association) is a regional rural health network, which was founded by family doctors to address the health and well-being needs of rural communities, on one hand, and the practitioners’ needs across Europe, on the other. EURIPA began its activity in 1995 with a small group of family doctors from across Europe, and in 1997 the structure was formalised into that of EURIPA today. EURIPA was initially recognized by WONCA Europe as a special interest group and subsequently as a representative network for rural family doctors across Europe. Now, it actively participates in WONCA Europe meetings and their annual conferences. The constitution was revised in 1997 when the International Advisory Board was created to support the work of EURIPA and its Executive Committee. EURIPA has worked hard to raise the profile of rural general practice, from its first research project in 1997, to the series of Annual Rural Health Forums, which started in 2010. These forums have focussed on quality, education and research with the 5th Forum taking place in September 2014 focussing on policy engagement. EURIPA uses social media to engage its membership and publishes regular newsletters - “Grapevine”, as well as encourages rural GPs to publish in the European Section of the Journal of Rural and Remote Health.