Message from the President

The 18th Annual Conference of Japan Primary Care Association
President 　Dr.Shin Yoshida
Iizuka Hospital, Department of General Medicine
Hakuaikai Kaita Hospital, Department of General Medicine

The 18th Annual Meeting of the Japan Primary Care Association
will be held under the theme "Hop, Step, and Jump for Primary Care," from Friday, May 21 to Sunday, May 23, 2027, at the Fukuoka International Congress Center and Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall B.
This will be the first time the meeting has been held in Fukuoka in 15 years, since the 3rd Annual Meeting in 2012.

Fukuoka Prefecture is a region relatively well-endowed with medical resources, yet its outlying areas include medically underserved regions and areas of population decline—presenting a stark contrast to Fukuoka City, into which people flow from both within Japan and abroad. In Iizuka City, a regional part of Fukuoka Prefecture, I have spent my entire 21-year career as a physician.

Since my earliest days as a novice resident, I have continually aspired to grow as a person, as a family physician, as a supervising physician, as a hospital administrator, and as someone who contributes to community-based healthcare. Along the way, I have been nurtured—both gently and rigorously—by patients, families, colleagues, and members of the community.

At the same time, through this Association, I have met countless mentors and colleagues, and had the opportunity to take part in activities such as the Young Physicians' Section, Japan-UK exchange programs, WONCA (World Organization of Family Doctors), and ICT-based medical care—experiences that have continually exposed me to a wide range of ideas and cutting-edge initiatives.

In hosting this meeting in Fukuoka, we have chosen the theme "Hop, Step, and Jump for Primary Care."

Japan's healthcare system currently faces serious challenges, including the advancing super-aged society, regional disparities in the distribution of medical resources, and the sustainability of the healthcare delivery system. Primary care is called upon to integrate medical, long-term care, and life-support resources within each community and deliver them to residents.

To achieve this, it is essential that primary care providers build their careers as a "run-up"—steadily accumulating experience and teamwork within their local communities—and then, from a broader perspective, learn about cutting-edge initiatives and academic knowledge, sharing stories of leaping forward through the challenge of transforming community healthcare to fit the times.

With this in mind, this meeting has defined the "Hop, Step, Jump" theme as follows, and has organized the venue into corresponding zones so that participants can experience distinct modes of learning:

In addition, in the Interactive Zone at Marine Messe Hall B, under the shared spirit of "feel free to engage, or simply to observe," we will create a space where participants can rest their minds and bodies after heated discussions and exchanges of ideas. This zone will showcase the relationship between community life and healthcare, as well as the many groups that make up this Association, creating a relaxed space for participants—including those with children, students, and junior residents—to interact with one another.

Through our pre-conference events and hospitality programs, we will put great effort into offering opportunities to experience Fukuoka's local healthcare and caregiving settings firsthand, while also allowing attendees to enjoy the region's delicious cuisine and delightful local specialties.

Learning, conversation, and the lively energy of a festival—all await you.
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you to the city of Fukuoka.