The FIFA World Cup of general practice has officially kicked off, with thousands of Australian and overseas GPs flocking to Sydney for the WONCA World Conference 2023.

Marking more than 50 years since the first gathering in Melbourne back in 1972, the RACGP-hosted event is welcoming representatives from across 110 countries, whose GPs care for 90% of the world’s population.

College president Dr Nicole Higgins — who has described the conference as the “FIFA of general practice” — told delegates that GPs faced the same challenges, irrespective of border or nationality.

“Whether we’re talking about family doctors and GPs being undervalued and underfunded, when we’re struggling with workforce and looking after an ageing and more complex population, addressing equity and access, I’m here to tell you that we’re the solution,” Dr Higgins said.