On 27 March 2026, World Adherence Day is being observed for the second time, highlighting the importance of adherence to therapeutic recommendations for effective treatment. Non-adherence remains a widespread problem, regardless of country or medical condition. Many patients struggle to follow prescribed treatments, and the reasons behind this are complex. The consequences, however, are clear: avoidable complications, hospitalisations, increased healthcare costs, and reduced effectiveness of treatment in real-world practice.

Primary care teams play a key role in addressing this challenge. They are uniquely positioned to:
– identify difficulties in following recommendations at an early stage,
– understand individual patient barriers,
– co-create realistic and sustainable treatment plans.

At the same time, there is still a lack of clear, practical tools and standards to support these activities in routine primary care practice.

In response to this need, on the initiative of Prof. Przemysław Kardas and Prof. Tamás Agh, the International Society for Medication Adherence (ESPACOMP) and the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) have launched a joint initiative to develop a global handbook for primary care. The planned “Primary Health Care Handbook for Managing Medication Adherence” will be a concise, practical resource aimed at translating current scientific evidence into actionable guidance for healthcare professionals worldwide. This represents an important step towards providing systemic support for family doctors and entire primary care teams in their everyday work with patients.