Family Practice in the Eastern Mediterranean Region ― Universal Health Coverage and Quality Primary Care

This is the first book to analyze in depth the current causes of shortage of family physicians and the relative weakness of the family practice model in many countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Focusing on engagement with the private health sector in scaling up family practice, the book explores why primary health care can make the difference and how it can be introduced and strengthened. Comparative experiences from around the world put the EMR in context, while the book also highlights where the EMR is special – in particular, the burden for health care of refugees and displaced persons, and the need of public-private partnerships.

Hassan Salah is a Medical Officer in the Primary and Community Health Care Unit at the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, World Health Organization. Dr Salah has over 25 years of senior international experience in implementing norms of essential health services thorough integrated district systems based on family practice. He reviewed several WHO publications.

Professor Michael Kidd AM is Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at The University of Toronto (from May 2017). He was previously executive dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University in Australia (2009-2016) and has a continuing appointment at Flinders University as Professor of Global Primary Care. He was previously Chair of the Department of General Practice at The University of Sydney (1995-2008).
He has worked closely over the past 12 years with staff of the WHO in Geneva, attending the World Health Assembly each year, and through regional offices, especially the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, on programs related to family medicine and primary care, the education and training of health professionals, mental health and non-communicable diseases, and health systems strengthening, including serving as a technical advisor with WHO teams visiting Oman, Iran and Saudi Arabia. He has led much of the work with the WHO of the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), especially during his time as WHO liaison (2005-2010), president-elect (2010-2013) and president (2013-2016).