XI INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF PEDIATRICS TOKYO, NOVEMBER 1965

Abstract

IT HAS become usual in our congresses to have at least one topic dealing with pediatric education. Thus, at the Lisbon Congress in 1962 a group panel discussion was organized, co-sponsored by WHO, on "Preventive Pediatrics in the Under-graduate Curriculum" (Acta Paediat., Suppl. 151, 1963). At this Congress a somewhat different approach has been chosen, the session has acquired the rank of a plenary meeting, and the introductory talks will give a short presentation not only of pediatric education today, but also of future trends. "Medicine is a life-long study" is a slogan which is rightly gaining ground, and which holds true for all medical disciplines, pediatrics included. It is just as pertinent whether we deal with pediatric specialists, with general practitioners, or with district officers of health. This means that the scope of education and the general methods for learning should attract an attention which goes far beyond university circles. The first chair of pediatrics was created in 1845 in Stockholm. Today Sweden has one chair of pediatrics for every million inhabitants, roughly speaking. Still, much remains to he done. The comparatively low infant mortality figures, about 15/1,000. should not obscure the fact that much unnecessary sickness still exists among children in our country also, and that the time and interest devoted to mental behaviour problems in the younger age groups are quite inadequate. In a recent sociological study in Sweden, a number of adults were asked which qualities in the doctor they appreciated most. It is revealing that the majority gave priority to understanding and friendliness. It may well be that knowledge and skill were taken for granted, but still the result reminds us of the fact that the basic needs of human beings are not always provided by technological progress.