Keynote Address
“Towards Unity for Healthcare”: the Initial Model of the French-Language Health Movement – Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Dr. Charles Boelen
Thursday, November 10, 2022, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (EST)
In 2002, Dr. Charles Boelen inspired his audience in Ottawa by presenting the Vers l’unité pour la santé (VUPS) project, the aim of which was to provide healthcare services centred on individual and group needs. His proposal to bring together five key partners to accomplish this aim—policymakers, healthcare managers, healthcare professionals, academic institutions, and communities—laid the foundation for the structure and operation of the SSF and the 16 health networks. Twenty years later, Dr. Boelen is back to share some lessons learned about the use of VUPS and his thoughts about what the future holds.
Dr Charles Boelen
Chair of the Réseau International Francophone pour la Responsabilité Sociale en Santé (RIFRESS)
A medical officer of health with training in epidemiology, health professional education, and health systems management, Dr. Charles Boelen worked for the World Health Organization (WHO) for 30 years (from 1971 to 2001) in health human resource development. In collaboration with health, academic, and professional authorities, he developed policies and strategies around the world to help train and use healthcare staff in accordance with country-specific priority healthcare needs. He developed the concept of social responsibility in academic institutions, coordinated the Global Consensus for Social Accountability of Medical Schools, and promoted a partnership effort between different players in the health field. Since retiring from the WHO, he has worked as an international consultant in health systems and personnel and headed the Réseau International Francophone pour la Responsabilité Sociale en Santé (RIFRESS, www.rifress.org).
