The President, Mrs McAleese, last night officially opened one of the largest medical conferences held in the State. Almost 4,000 family doctors from over 70 countries are in Dublin for the World Organisation of National Colleges and Academies conference.
The conference, hosted by the Irish College of General Practitioners, begins this morning with a session on women's health, which will examine the Department of Health's policy in this area. It will be chaired by Ms Ruth Barrington, assistant Secretary of the Department of Health, and Ms Noreen Byrne, chairwoman of the National Women's Council.
A large number of other topics affecting family doctors all over the world will be discussed throughout the day.
The theme of the conference is "People and their Family Doctors: Partners in Care". Welcoming the delegates, the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, said the theme was an appropriate one given the nature of general practice and its centrality in the health-care system.
He said: "It is encouraging to see that Irish general practitioners take an active role in the ongoing exchange of experience relating to general practice which WONCA facilitates, with its regular meetings worldwide. WONCA will provide a worthwhile stimulus to the measures being taken to improve general practice in Ireland."
The conference continues in the RDS until Thursday.
Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that Dr Michael Boland, a GP from Skibbereen in Co Cork, was voted president-elect of WONCA. Dr Boland is also chairman of the ICGP host organising committee.