EURIPA is a representative organisation founded by family doctors to address the health needs of rural communities and the professional needs of those serving them. It represents a growing network of rural practitioners and organisations across Europe working together to disseminate good practice and initiate research.
EURIPA is a unique body in that it is the first regional rural health organisation in the world. Recent research and review of the European rural health literature carried out by EURIPA (BIOMED II research project) and described later in this document, demonstrates that rural communities and health practitioners throughout rural Europe experience similar problems related to isolation, deprivation, access to care, professional education and personal development. The study highlighted a dearth of accurate research based information on rural health and identified a number of research avenues for further work.
EURIPA aims to act as a catalyst to promote rural health issues and establish rural health networks in member countries.
EURIPA's principals are:
An Executive Committee has been established which meets once a year to review the previous years activities and to plan the forward work programme, of events, educational and research activities. The meeting usually takes place in the early months of the year and is followed by its Annual General Meeting that usually occurs at the annual WONCA Europe conference.
The members of the Executive Committee are:
| Name | Country |
|---|---|
| John Wynn-Jones (President) | UK |
| Christos Lionis (Journal Editor) | Greece |
| Marios Chaiziarsenis | Greece |
| Agnes Simek | Hungary |
| Claudio Carosino | Italy |
| Gunta Ticmane | Latvia |
| Elisabeth Swensen | Norway |
| Christina Galvao | Portugal |
| Zsuzsanna Farkas-pall | Romania |
| Jose Lopez Abuin | Spain |
| Jaume Banque Vidiella | Spain |
| Hakan Yaman | Turkey |
Co-opted members are:
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Andreas Rinnerberger | Vasco da Gama |
| TBC | EGPRN |
| Jose Bueno | EQUIP |
| TBC | EURACT |
| Hans Hannich | IAAMRH |
The Executive Secretary is Jane Randall-Smith.
EURIPA works in partnership with the other WONCA Europe Networks and representatives are invited to the Executive Committee meetings.
EURIPA submits abstracts each year to run rural workshops at the WONCA Europe conferences.