TUFH2026

Abstract Submission

       Remote & Rural

  Health Summit

TUFH 2026 Manila

Theme: Bridging the Distance: Local Realities, Global Equity

Hosts: The Network: TUFH, WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice & Rural Health Partners

Venue: University of the Philippines Manila, Henry Sy Sr. Medical Sciences Building (Room 506/7)

Date: Thursday, August 6, 2026

Co-hosted by  The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) — an official non-State actor of the World Health Organization—& WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice

Partnered with National Center for Rural Health Professions & Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia & RDN – The Charity for Health Access

PHASE 1: THE ROAD TO MANILA

Pre-Summit Webinar Series

A three-part virtual series to build consensus and gather data before the in-person summit.

Webinar 1: The Policy Landscape

  • Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 2 – 3 PM UTC
  • Topic: “Rural Proofing: Does Global Policy Work in the Villages?”
  • Focus: Analyzing gaps between WHO guidelines and grassroots realities.

Webinar 2: The Workforce Challenge

  • Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 2 – 3 PM UTC
  • Topic: “Training for the Last Mile: Socially Accountable Education.”
  • Focus: Retention strategies and the “Rural Generalist” model.

Webinar 3: Innovation & Resilience

    • Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 2 – 3 PM UTC
    • Topic: “Reaching the Unreached: Digital Health in Archipelago Nations.”
    • Focus: Telemedicine, drones, and climate-resilient health infrastructure (focus on Philippines/SE Asia context).
Register for the three-part virtual series for free

PHASE 2: SUMMIT @ TUFH 2026

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Room: 506/507 (5th Floor)

Time

Session

Details

09:30 – 09:50

Keynote Address

Speaker: TBC

Topic: “The State of Rural Health 2026: From Rhetoric to Action.”

09:50 – 10:45

Oral Presentation 

“5 Minutes to Change the World”

Selected presentations on high-impact rural innovations (mixed global/local).

• Tech in the Barrios (Local)

• Indigenous Workforce Models (Global)

• Disaster Response Protocols (Regional)

10:45 – 11:30

Interactive Debate

Topic: “Is Urban-Centric Medical Education Killing Rural Practice?”

A structured debate between Deans and Rural Students.

12:30 – 13:30

Panel Discussion

Theme: “Voices from the Frontline: Resilience in Isolation”

Format: Fishbowl Session.

Focus: Mental health, burnout, and safety for providers in GIDA (Geographically Isolated) zones.

15:00 – 16:30

The Workshop

Drafting The Manila Declaration 2026

Delegates break into working groups to finalize the text on:

1. Mandatory Rural Proofing.

2. Educational Investment (The 20% Rule).

3. Digital Rights as Health Rights.

16:30 – 17:00

Closing Ceremony

Launch of the Declaration

Official reading and signing of the Manila Declaration on Rural Health Equity.

 

PHASE 3: POST-SUMMIT IMPACT 

Publications

Ensuring the summit leaves a permanent academic legacy.

Publication 1: The Policy Statement

  • Title: “The Manila Declaration 2026: A Global Call for Rural Proofing in Health Education.”
  • Target Journal: Rural and Remote Health (Global).
  • Content: The full consensus text and signatory list.

Publication 2: The Educational Review

  • Title: “Socially Accountable Training for the Last Mile: Lessons from TUFH 2026.”
  • Target Journal: Education for Health (The Network: TUFH Journal).
  • Content: Synthesis of the “Workforce” webinar and the “Urban vs Rural” debate findings.

Publication 3: The Regional Report

  • Title: “Innovation in Isolation: Frugal Health Solutions from the Philippine Archipelago.”
  • Target Journal: The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific.
  • Content: A showcase of the top 5 “Flash Talks” presented at the summit.
Sign up to co-write the publications

Register and Submit

Register

Register For TUFH2026

 

 

To attend the Summit, please register for the TUFH 2026 Conference.

 

Submit Abstract

Submit an Abstract

We invite abstracts for Oral Presentations on Remote and Rural Health. 

Submission Instructions:

  • Select the subtheme “Remote and Rural Health”.

  • In “Reason for Subtheme,” explain why you want to present at the summit.

DEADLINE  – March 31, 2026

Abstract Guidelines

Oral Presentations

Details

Oral Presentations allow 5 minutes to present your work with a poster for visual effect followed by a facilitated discussion among presenters and conference participants. The moderator will invite participants to ask questions and to share experiences pertinent to themes brought up in the presentations. At the conference, contributors and participants will meet in groups of about 30 persons for two-hour sessions. Use this format when writing about research: Introduction – Methods -Results – Discussion – Conclusion.

TUFH 2026 is very proud to host the 2 hour-long oral presentation and discussion sessions where students and professionals can present their work using a poster for visual effect. Usually, the presenter has worked on this project for one or more years. They will present the timeline, agenda, goals, results, difficulties, implementation possibilities, etc. Oral Presentations are not always research based, but can also be used to describe a project or organization. The discussion is guided by a moderator who will also seek to facilitate future collaborations based on the projects that are presented. The projects are on different topics linked to a theme and can be in different stages (research project, running project, concluded project, or study). The presenters of Oral Presentations are key to the Scientific value of the TUFH 2025 conference. It is their projects that attendees of the TUFH 2025 conference come to learn about.

AVAILABLE for PHYSICAL and VIRTUAL PARTICIPANTS to PRESENT.

Oral Presentation Guidelines: https://tufh2026.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ORAL-SESSION-GUIDELINES-TUFH-2026.pdf 

Oral Presentation Simple Template: https://tufh2026.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TUFH-2026-Oral-Presentation.pptx

Oral Presentation Poster Upload: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBnebtvPU0zSQe5XcY_gUra219oV673JmRuyNaRq92Am-lnQ/viewform 

 

Submit an Abstract

How to Submit Your Abstract

Here is the step by step video for TUFH 2020 that will take you through the abstract submission (it is the same for TUFH 2026).

Public Consent

If you have an accepted abstract, you acknowledge and agree that The Network: TUFH, UP Manila, the organizing committee of this conference, and sponsors of this conference may edit and publish in any of their digital or printed communications or publications, including but not limited to, websites, social media outlets, newsletters, annual reports, and promotional materials;  the information provided including but not limited to the full abstract, your name, co-author information, pictures, and institutions.

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