Biennial gatherings of rural doctors, researchers, academics, and advocates from across the globe — sharing evidence, forging partnerships, and shaping policy for rural communities.
Theme: Whānau Ora — All for the Wellbeing of Families, incorporating Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge). Delegates from across the globe will gather to share evidence, practice, and policy for healthier rural communities worldwide.
Held in Cape Town, South Africa, 10–13 September 2024. The Ubuntu theme emphasised collective responsibility for rural health, with sessions on workforce development, community-based care models, and addressing health inequities in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Delegates from 50+ countries attended.
Limerick, Ireland, 17–20 June 2022. Produced the landmark Limerick Declaration on Rural Health Care — calling for urgent action on rural health equity, workforce shortages, and climate-resilient primary care. Attended by delegates from more than 40 countries.
Delivered as a virtual series from July 2021 through March 2022 in response to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Sessions focused on rural health in Africa, digital health equity, pandemic response in remote communities, and building resilient rural health systems. Over 60 countries participated.
Sessions & Recordings
Originally planned for Dhaka, Bangladesh, the 17th conference was adapted to a virtual format running October 2020 through February 2021. Themes centred on pandemic resilience, frontline rural health worker support, and the accelerated role of telehealth in connecting remote patients to specialist care.
Webinar Sessions
Rural WONCA delivers regular virtual sessions — webinars, workshops, and expert panels — connecting rural health professionals across time zones without travel barriers.
Monthly expert webinars on rural workforce retention, training pathways, and policy advocacy — open to all Rural WONCA members and affiliates globally.
Monthly virtual peer sessions for young doctors and students — low-barrier, informal, and global. A space to share experiences, find mentors, and build rural medicine community.
Ahead of the 21st World Rural Health Conference in Wellington 2026, Rural WONCA will host a series of virtual preparatory sessions on conference themes and global rural health priorities.
Rural WONCA's World Rural Health Conferences are held in different regions on a rotating basis, ensuring genuine global reach. Member organisations and national colleges are invited to bid to host a future conference or regional summit.
Hosting a Rural WONCA conference places your country at the centre of the global rural health conversation — attracting hundreds of practitioners, policymakers, and researchers from across every WHO region.
