WPA scientific meetings
Authors: Tarek Okasha
Journal: World Psychiatry (2013)

Since my election as WPA Secretary for Meetings during the 14th World Congress of Psychiatry in September 2008, I have had the opportunity to work during the triennium 2008–2011 under the leadership of Prof. Mario Maj. During the triennium 2008–2011, the WPA scientific meetings were held in all the WPA four regions and in all the WPA 18 zones 1. The WPA held a total of 138 scientific meetings. Out of those meetings, 11 were WPA sponsored meetings (so called when the organizing committee takes responsibility for hosting a meeting of the WPA Executive Committee) and 127 were WPA co-sponsored meetings (so called when they are organized by WPA Member Societies and other organizations or institutions whose goals are harmonious with those of the WPA) 2, 3. A major scientific impact was the number of mental health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, primary care physicians) reached by the WPA scientific meetings, making a total of 127,417. The triennium ended with the 15th World Congress of Psychiatry, which was held in Buenos Aries, Argentina and had a record attendance of more than 14,000 delegates (the most attended psychiatric congress in 2011 and the most attended World Congress in the history of the WPA), as well as an outstanding scientific program. In the current triennium 2011–2014, under the leadership of Prof. Pedro Ruiz, the WPA Operational Committee on Scientific Meetings, which I am honoured to chair, includes Wolfgang Gaebel as co-chair; Sue Bailey, Edmond Pi, and Rodrigo Cordoba as members. The committee has arranged for three International Congresses (one was held in Prague, Czech Republic in 2012, and two will take place in Istanbul, Turkey in June 2013 and in Vienna, Austria in October 2013). We also have seven Regional Congresses and Meetings (in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2011; in Bali, Indonesia, 2012; in Asuncion, Paraguay, 2013; in Bucharest, Romania, 2013; in Guadalajara, Mexico, September 2013; in Kampala, Uganda, February 2014; and in Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 2014). We also have six Thematic Conferences (in Granada, Spain, 2012; in Tarragona, Spain, 2012; in Athens, Greece, 2012; in Yerevan, Armenia, August 2013; in Melbourne, Australia, September 2013; and in Warsaw, Poland, June 2013), and last but not least the 16th World Congress of Psychiatry, to be held in Madrid, Spain from 14 to 18 September, 2014. We have already had more than 100 co-sponsored WPA Meetings, co-organized with WPA Member Societies or Affiliated Associations as well as other associations whose goals and objectives are in harmony with the WPA. The Committee also decided to implement and improve the tasks and functions of the WPA related to sponsored and co-sponsored meetings, by: a) reviewing and improving the scientific quality of WPA scientific meetings; b) working with the WPA Secretary for Education and Secretary General to provide educational credits; c) working with the WPA Secretary for Finances to improve the financial income and stability of the WPA through sponsored meetings and setting up a financial code for WPA sponsored meetings; d) working hard to ensure that WPA meetings are present across the four regions and 18 zones of the WPA, with special emphasis on middle and low income countries. With the strong interest of the WPA Member Societies and Affiliated Associations to hold WPA sponsored and co-sponsored meetings, it seems that we will not only have the same success with WPA meetings as in the last triennium, but we may surpass that level. If these expectations and efforts are properly met, the WPA will have a major role in contributing to the quality of scientific knowledge and psychiatric care offered across the world, in particular to middle and low income countries. The number of WPA co-sponsored meetings is increasing at a steady rate and we hope to set a new record for WPA meetings at the end of this triennium.