The Report, by Professor David Godden, Director of the Centre for Rural Health, Scotland, and Ivar Aaraas, University of Tromsø, describes the key outcomes from a conference, held in Tromsø in September, where over 200 delegates from more than 8 countries, gathered within the Arctic Circle to discuss challenges and solutions to rural health issues.

Professor David Godden presented the Report and outlined the key outcomes from the conference. He said, "Health care in rural areas is closely linked with the strength and viability of communities.  This conference brought together clinicians, managers, academics, patients and their representatives to discuss current and future ways to strengthen our rural health services, with an emphasis on practical solutions.  Scotland is now recognised internationally for its thinking on rural health issues"

The Making it Work conference was the second joint venture between the health service, Helse Nord, in Northern Norway and two of the northern Boards of Scotland, NHS Highland and NHS Grampian.  Northern Norway and Northern Scotland share similar aspects of geography, economic development and demography, but have sufficient differences to allow meaningful dialogue and joint exploration of the challenges faced by remote and rural communities.