German health practitioners came together in Vienna in October in a special regional meeting under the auspices of the International Society of Men’s Health (ISMH). The German-Speaking Congress on Gender and Medicine (3Laenderkongress'04) brought together general practitioners, urologists, and many other specialists from Germany, Austria and Luxembourg to discuss issues related to men’s health in those countries.
During an interview following the Congress, Professor Siegfried Meryn from the University of Medicine of Vienna and president of the ISMH, as well as vice-president of the European Men’s Health Forum (EMHF) stressed the event was a real success and he talked about the future developments in the field of gender and health at local, national but also European level.
Prof. Meryn underlined the number of participants reached 130 participants per day. According to the organiser, 70% of attendees were general practitioners and 30% urologists. It shows that there is a growing interest in integrating men’s health in the daily practice of medicine.
Vienna is a regular supporter of men’s health initiatives and events. In October 2003 the city hosted the Third World Congress on Men’s Health, and in October this year it supported this German-Speaking Congress. The new health town councillor Renate Brauner already promised to continue this way.
At national level, the Austrian Federal Minister Maria Rauch-Kallat explained she is ready to promote gender in medicine with the collaboration of the ISMH.
Under the Austrian Presidency of the European Union, which will take place during the first semester 2006, the Minister also wants to bring the discussion up in the European agenda in order to strengthen the recognition of gender-specific health needs at EU level.
The ISMH is already concentrating its efforts on preparing the 2005 World Congress on Men’s Health that will take place from 30 September to 1 October 2005 also in Vienna.
