Abstract submissions is now closed
The Organizing Committee of the International Conference on Primary Health Care is committed to fostering transparency, promoting diversity, and ensuring high-quality presentations across all aspects of conference management. All presentations will be delivered in person at the conference venue in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from October 6 to 10, 2025.
What's next?
Thanks to all applicants who submitted their abstracts, we received close to 450 abstract submissions from researchers, policymakers, and frontline health workers across five continents’ health systems.
The Conference Technical Review Team is now in the process of evaluating submissions based on the following criteria to ensure relevance, impact, and quality:
- Evidence-Base and Technical Quality: Rigor of the proposed content, including study methods, design, analytical tools, and frameworks used.
- Relevance to Conference Themes: Alignment with the conference themes, including feasibility, practicality, and implications for policy and strategy in similar settings.
- Impact: Potential impact of the presentation, including results, scalability, lessons learned, intervention projects, improvements to community health programs, and financing of primary health care.
- Diversity: Representation of diverse perspectives, considering gender, disability, region, and technical/organizational background.
- Innovation and Applicability to LMICs: Degree of innovation in the study, question, or tool presented, with a focus on generating new approaches or frameworks applicable to, or originating from, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Alignment to Conference Tracks
During the submission process, applicants were asked to categorize their application based on the following criteria:
Key Submission Notes
- If submitting multiple abstracts, each proposal must be submitted individually.
- All submissions are reviewed and approved by the Technical Research Review Committee to ensure topic diversity and alignment with conference themes.
- To maximize learning and impact, we strongly encourage the submission of research findings based on multi-country studies.
Presentation types
Breakout Sessions
Breakout sessions are live, interactive ‘break-out’ style sessions that run for 60-90 minutes in rooms simultaneously. Running concurrently in blocks of up to eight sessions, they provide opportunities to discuss new research, evidence, strategies, and emerging challenges in Primary Health Care.
The Program Committee will group non-sponsored breakout presentations on the same topic but from different countries together to allow the audience to get the most out of the sessions and to foster cross-national learning and comparison.
Lightning Paper Talks
Lightning Paper Talks are dynamic and engaging sessions featuring fast-paced, 3-5 minute research presentations. These concise presentations offer a platform for rapid knowledge-sharing and the dissemination of cutting-edge findings. Each session includes multiple presentations, followed by a moderated panel discussion and audience Q&A, fostering a collaborative learning environment. These talks are designed to be highly engaging and efficient, maximizing the audience’s exposure to diverse research perspectives.
Roundtable Sessions
Roundtable sessions are highly interactive, small-group discussions with three 15-minute rotations, each hosting up to 10 participants. Attendees rotate between tables, exploring diverse topics. A booklet or online listing will provide session details for informed selection. A moderator will announce rotations, with a 3-minute transition period. Presenters can share materials or contact details with participants.
Poster Presentation
Poster Presentations provide a visual platform for showcasing research, professional insights, and peer-reviewed work. Posters will be available on demand throughout the conference, with a dedicated live poster session where presenters engage directly with attendees. During this session, presenters will discuss their findings, explain key concepts, and answer questions from various groups of participants.
Practical Workshops & Skills Sessions
Workshops provide a deep-dive training experience, running for 3 hours with 20-35 participants. These skill-building sessions focus on specific topics, led by industry professionals and structured to include breakout work and report backs.
Field Visits
Field visits provide on-site learning experiences, allowing attendees to explore Primary Health Care facilities, innovation hubs, or operational sites. These visits offer real-world insights and networking opportunities in a practical setting.
Additional Considerations
If your submission is not accepted for your first preference, you may be considered as a presenter in a session arranged by the Technical Review Committee.
Notifications and Updates
- Ensure you follow-up with your email inbox regularly. Notifications will be sent through the Oxford Abstracts Platform.
- All abstracts submitted by the deadline will be reviewed. Late submissions may be placed on a waiting list for consideration.
- Applicants will be notified of selection decisions starting in early June 2025.
- Selected speakers must confirm acceptance by the published deadline and pay the applicable registration fees.
Waiting List
- Due to anticipated high demand, late submissions will be asked to join a waiting list.
- Spots will be offered to those on the waiting list as they become available, potentially after the first acceptance deadline has passed.
Speaker Responsibilities
- All speakers are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and conference fees.
- Ensure you obtain an Ethiopian entry visa when applicable.
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are available to applicants, primarily for:
- Local NGOs, not-for-profits, social enterprises, or organizations headquartered in Global South regions (as defined by the World Bank).
- Awards are based on criteria such as excellence in Primary Health Care and demonstrated economic need.