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

Pre-Summit Webinar Series

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

Webinar 1: 

• Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 7 – 8:30 AM UTC (3 – 4:30 PM Manila)
• Topic: Rehearse to Respond: Using Tabletop Exercises to Strengthen Health Emergency Preparedness and Response in Rural and Remote Settings
• Focus: Effective health emergency readiness and resilience requires rehearsal and shared learning beyond written policies and plans. The webinar will highlight challenges faced by resource constrained health systems during emergencies and disasters
• Content Lead: Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians (PSPHP) and Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes (AIHO)

• Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 7 – 8 AM UTC ( 3 – 4 PM Manila)
• Topic: Training for the Last Mile: Socially Accountable Training & Education
• Focus: Workplace Based Training as a Capacity Building and Retention Strategy for Rural and Remote Settings
• Content Lead: Foundation for Family Medicine Educators (FAMED) and Rural Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)

Webinar 3:

Title | Webinar 3: Advancing Indigenous Health Workforce Models 

Timing | 7:00–8:00 AM UTC | 3:00–4:00 PM Manila, Wednesday, July 29, 2026 (Duration: 90 Minutes)

Location | Virtual Online Panel & Discussion

Content | Session Overview: Building a robust, culturally safe, and sustainable health workforce is critical to addressing health inequities faced by Indigenous communities globally. In this comprehensive 90-minute session, we will examine the full continuum of the health workforce pathway. Rather than viewing workforce development in isolated stages, this webinar provides a holistic framework—from early educational pipelines to the recruitment of skilled professionals, and the critical ongoing need for retention strategies in rural and Indigenous settings.

Programme | What to Expect: The discussion will unpack the complexities of building a workforce that truly serves Indigenous populations. Key focal points include:

• Educational Pathways: Designing culturally safe training environments and building pipelines that encourage Indigenous youth to pursue health careers.
• Recruitment Strategies: Exploring innovative, community-led approaches to attract healthcare professionals to Indigenous and rural areas.
• Retention & Support: Identifying the key drivers of burnout and turnover, and establishing workplace cultures that offer long-term support and mentorship.
• Real-World Exemplars: Highlighting successful, evidence-based models currently making a measurable difference in Indigenous communities worldwide.
• Navigating Current Challenges: A candid look at the systemic barriers, funding limitations, and geographical hurdles currently facing rural health planners and workers.

Focal points – Rural WONCA (The WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice)

• In Collaboration With: The World Health Organization (WHO) 

Featured Speakers:

• Indigenous healthcare professionals 
• Experts from Rural WONCA
• Guest Speakers from WHO 

Target Audience: Rural healthcare practitioners, public health policymakers, medical educators, community health advocates, and anyone invested in achieving health equity for Indigenous populations.

Background documents – 

Global Plan of Action for Health of Indigenous Peoples – https://www.who.int/initiatives/global-plan-of-action-for-health-of-indigenous-peoples

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Room: 506/507 (5th Floor)

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.