Dear Congress Participants,

It’s an honour to welcome you to the Virtual Congress of General Practice and Family Medicine. After the successful first edition in 2008 the logical step was the organization of the event that we open today.

The Portuguese Association of General Practitioners (APMCG) is once again involved. The very dynamic and highly motivated team of the Virtual General Practice and Family Medicine Working Group had an outstanding work organizing the congress. Their effort made possible to network colleagues from several countries representing the five continents. They build an extraordinary group - Organizing Committee, Scientific Committee, Information Technology Committee and International Advisory Board.

Their believe in a bright future for General Practice/Family Medicine originated the idea of the Virtual Congress – a scientific event based in a web-platform. Sir William Osler wrote in the beginning of the 20th Century that “the great Republic of Medicine knows and has known no national boundaries”. In the beginning of the new century that make more sense than ever. The new information and communication technologies (ICTs) gave rise to new fields for innovation in medical sciences and health care. Today we can easily percept that the GP/FM is leading the process of ICTs integration in clinical practice, education and research. But our speciality is also on the front line of using ICTs in the interface with patients. These are the underlying ideas beneath the congress theme – using the new information and communication technologies GP/FM is definitely contributing for patients and health professionals’ empowerment. And is certainly helping to build what is known by e-Health.

Education for excellence in primary care is one of the goals of APMCG activity and Innovation in GP/FM is one of its strategic lines. Because of this APMCG had no hesitation to support Virtual Congress since the beginning sharing it with the global community of GPs/family physicians. I know that you also have no doubts about the benefit of this scientific event.