IOF Regional Meetings

IOF holds business meetings for its entire membership twice yearly, usually in conjunction with a scientific congress. However, recognizing the need for smaller forums in which regional issues can be discussed intensively, and in order to reduce travel time and costs for its members, IOF has begun holding occasional regional program planning meetings. Meetings have already been held in Asia, Latin America and Europe.

Below is a brief outline of recent regional meetings. Meeting minutes or reports are available on the IOF members only section of the website.

Latin America and the Caribbean
Asia
Europe

IOF Regional Meetings in Latin America and the Caribbean

The most recent meeting of IOF's patient and medical societies in Central America and the Caribbean was held in Miami in December 2007 on the occasion of the IOF Worldwide Conference of Osteoporosis Patient Societies. The meeting gave members the opportunity to discuss different activities in the region, to exchange ideas and to learn about IOF programs and projects.

IOF organized its first regional meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean in November 2006 in Panama. The meetings were  organized in cooperation with the Panamanian society Fundacion de Osteoporosis y Enfermedades Metabolicas Oseas (FOSEMO). At the meeting, IOF member societies from Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama and Puerto Rico reported on the epidemiologic, social and economic impact of osteoporosis in each country. The delegates were joined by invited representatives of societies from El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica and Nicaragua, who also presented national reports.

A central focus was IOF’s ambitious Latin American Program. This program, which will implement projects for science and physician training, patient support, and communications in Latin America, was the subject of group discussions which resulted in conclusions and recommendations from the delegates. IOF’s Latinamerican office, located in Buenos Aires, will be responsible for fundraising and implementation of the program.

IOF Regional Meetings in Asia

At the beginning of December 2006 members of the IOF family in Asia gathered in Bangkok, Thailand to discuss and give input to the creation of the IOF Asia Regional Program. The meeting, which followed a 2004 meeting in Hong Kong, was organized in order to give IOF members in the region the opportunity to help direct IOF’s Asia program, and to ensure that the projects and activities selected reflect their needs in the fight against osteoporosis in Asia. Held over two days, the meeting focused on four important aspects of the IOF work: science, policy, IOF family and communications.

A follow up meeting took place in January 2008 in Bangkok where participants were asked to add input to the regional program. This meeting was the occasion to present the Asian Guidelines and four working groups were implemented to assist with further development (Science, IOF Family, Policy, Outreach and Education).


The next meeting will be held in Bangkok on December 3, 2008 - prior to the IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis (Dec. 3-7, 2008).

IOF Regional Meetings in Europe

A first meeting for European CNS member was held in Vienna in 2006, and these have since become a regular event during the annual IOF business meetings, often in conjunction with the CNS or Patient Subcommittee meetings. It is an occasion to provide an update on policy and lobbying in the European Union as well as to report on members' activities and developments.