The Highlands Physicians Forum: rediscovering the regional medical meeting in Papua New Guinea

• Published in: Papua New Guinea medical journal Vol. 36; no. 3; p. 215
• Main Authors: Dyke, T, Flew, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Papua New Guinea 01-09-1993
• Subjects: Congresses as Topic - organization & administration; Focus Groups; Humans; Organizational Objectives; Papua New Guinea; Planning Techniques; Regional Medical Programs - organization & administration; Rural Health; Societies, Medical - organization & administration; Papua New Guinea
• ISSN: 0031-1480

Physicians meeting together to discuss matters of professional interest has been the basis of many developments in the advancement and communication of medical knowledge. These meetings neither have to be large nor nationally based to provide a useful exchange of meaningful ideas. With this in mind, a group of physicians working in the highlands of Papua New Guinea decided to hold their own professional meeting which would focus on issues of relevance to the practice of medicine in the highlands. Other physicians were not excluded and several specialists from Port Moresby joined the group. The program was similar to that found to be so successful over the years at the annual medical symposia of the Medical Society of Papua New Guinea. All participants contributed papers to the meeting. The collegial atmosphere created by the small number of individuals fostered stimulating discussions and a greater depth of interchange than might have been the case with a larger number of participants. A range of topics was covered but the emphasis was on practical approaches to health problems. The meeting concluded with a workshop session discussing problems in rural health services, the utility of rural laboratories and a medical audit in the highlands. The Highlands Physicians Forum has now met for two consecutive years and has been the source of positive comments from all participants. We urge physicians all over Papua New Guinea to develop regional meetings. This should not be viewed as being in competition with the annual symposium but as a preparation for it.