David Butt, AGPN
 Governments around the world have made the move, or are moving towards, primary health care as a solution to access problems and hospital pressure. Many countries have developed primary health care organisations (PHCOs) to better organise and integrate services and to take primary health care reform forward.
For the first time the organisations involved in this transformation are invited to come together at the World Health Care Networks (WHCN) inaugural conference in Auckland this year.
Building on a relationship spanning many years Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) and General Practice New Zealand (GPNZ) have joined together to create the World Health Care Networks (WHCN), and the first conference – In our hands – will be held this year.
The 22-24 July WHCN Conference will be held in Auckland and will bring together network members, academics and policy makers from around the world to discuss and debate health care reform and the role of health care networks now and in the future.
The health system changes proposed by governments are in large part due to the changes in health care needs of patients. Throughout the developed world patients are living longer, developing more chronic disease and alternative models of care are part of the solution to maintain wellbeing.
Health care networks are considered part of the solution and Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) in New Zealand and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in the United Kingdom have taken on responsibility for large sections of the health system. In Australia, the government is contemplating regional PHCOs to manage health systems across the country.
The WHCN conference aims to generate commitment, energy and passion from participants and other stakeholders to take action in harnessing the value of health care networks in achieving transformational change.
For more information see the web site <www.whcnetworks.com>
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