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Rural WONCA Resources
This website is a repository of resources related to rural health. Our current focus is on COVID-19 and Health Workforce. Please feel free to explore the resources here, and see our ‘about us’ page for more information.
Dear colleagues, On behalf of the WONCA Working Party Rural Practice I’m pleased to share the opportunity to attend the 21stWONCA World Rural Health Conference, hosted by Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network, in Wellington New Zealand, April 10 -13 2026. The conference theme Integrating Mātauranga Māori, Indigenous Knowledge, with rural health for a thriving future, provides a platform to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the unique contributions of rural healthcare from around the world. New Zealand will share their knowledge and learnings with a particular emphasis on the values and practice of Hauora Māori (Māori health). For more details, including registration, program highlights, and travel information go to: WONCA 2026 | Home As Chair I am looking forward to leading the vision and legacy of the Conference. I will share with you the progress of WWPRP initiatives such as Rural WONCA GRACE (Global Rural Action, Collaboration and Excellence), the Collaboration Hub and other rural health projects at the conference. I appreciate your support and commitment to delivering this bi-annual event bringing our global rural health community together to create and deliver sustainable change in health outcomes. We are not able to provide any financial support to attend the conference. Presenters, participants and partners will need to cover their own travel, accommodation and registration. The WWPRP and Hauora Taiwhenua welcome you to New Zealand. Nāku te rourou nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi With your basket and my basket, the people will thrive Please watch our conference video linked here: https://youtu.be/ig4XVcqek54?si=eyGZhNIpd6g8UrOH Regards, Dr. Pratyush kumar MBBS, DNB – Family Medicine Chair – Rural Wonca Chief Editor – Journal of Surgical Specialties and Rural Practice Founder – Project “HAPPY” https://t.co/hzMPkHwXtK
Reports on a distance learning programme offered by CMC Vellore, a medical education institution in India.
Staffing of rural and remote facilities is a challenge throughout the world. Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) has been running a rurally based scholarship scheme since 1999.The aim of this review is to present data on the number of students selected, their progress, graduation and work placement from inception of the scheme until 2013
The authors’ objective was to explore the key issues of practice location of all MDGP graduates to enhance recruitment of doctors in rural practice
The objective of this study was to assess adherence to selection criteria in the recruitment of ASHA workers and to assess their performance against their job descriptions in Karnataka state, India.
Position paper of the Academy of Family Physicians of India
This paper reports on a rapid, multifaceted participatory appraisal emphasising community participation, which was used to compile information about the current needs of the community on health, preparedness of healthcare services to meet community’s demands and about community capacity.
A questionnaire survey of doctors was planned to analyze their experience of working after graduation in remote rural areas in various parts of the country.
In South Africa, community service following medical training serves as a mechanism for equitable distribution of health professionals and their professional development. Community service officers are required to contribute a year towards serving in a public health facility while receiving supervision and remuneration. This study offers an assessment of these programs.
The Chinese government, based on the 1999 Law on Physicians, started implementing the Rural Doctor Practice Regulation in 2004 to increase the percentage of certified physicians among village doctors. Special exam-targeted training for rural doctors therefore was launched as a national initiative. This study examined these rural doctors’ perceptions of whether that training helps them pass the exam and whether it improves their skills.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the primary levels of lifelong learning of the rural physicians and to analyze group differences.