Council 212-Activity Report-Apr2019 (1)

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THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
Activity Report to the
212th
WMA Council Session
(October 2018 – March 2019)
April 2019 Council 212/Activity Report/Apr2019
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THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
REPORT OF ACTIVITIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter I Ethics, Advocacy & Representations
1. Ethics
1.1 International Code of Medical Ethics
1.2 Genetics in Medicine
2. Human Rights
2.1 Right to health
2.2 Protecting patients and doctors
2.3 Prevention of torture and ill-treatment
2.4 Pain treatment
2.5 Health through peace
2.6 Sexual orientation and gender identity
3. Public Health
3.1 Non-communicable diseases
3.2 Communicable diseases
3.3 Health and populations exposed to discrimination
3.4 Social determinants of health and universal health coverage (UHC)
3.5 Counterfeit medical products
3.6 Food security and nutrition
3.7 Health and the environment
4. Health Systems
4.1 Primary health care
4.2 Patient safety
4.3 Antimicrobial resistance
4.4 Health workforce
4.5 Violence in the health sector
4.6 Caring Physicians of the World Initiative Leadership Course
5. Health Policy & Education
5.1 Medical and health policy development and education
5.2 Support for national constituent members
Chapter II Partnership & Collaboration
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1. World Health Organization (WHO)
2. UNESCO Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law
3. Other UN agencies
4. World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)
5. WMA Cooperating Centers
6. World Continuing Education Alliance (WCEA)
7. Other partnerships or collaborations with Health and Human Rights Organizations
Chapter III Communication & Outreach
1. WMA newsletter
2. WMA social media (Twitter and Facebook)
3. The World Medical Journal
4. WMA Annual Report
5. Meeting with Arab Medical Union leaders
6. Secondments / internships
Chapter IV Operational Excellence
1. Advocacy
2. Paperless meetings
3. Governance
4. New staff at the WMA Secretariat
Chapter V Acknowledgement
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CHAPTER I ETHICS, ADVOCACY & REPRESENTATIONS
1. Ethics
1.1 International Code of Medical Ethics (ICoME)
The Council has decided to establish a workgroup to revise the International Code of
Medical Ethics in its meeting in Riga, April 2018. The workgroup started to develop a list
of priority issues, which should be included in the policy. The plan is to share a draft
version of the revised ICoME policy at the General Assembly in 2019.
1.2 Genetics in Medicine
At the Council Session in Riga, April 2018, it was decided to establish a workgroup for the
revision of the WMA Statement on Genetics in Medicine and at the General Assembly in
Reykjavik, October 2018, the Council decided to call this WMA Statement as the
Declaration of Reykjavik. The workgroup proposes a revised version of the policy to the
Medical Ethics Committee during this Council session in Santiago.
2. Human Rights
2.1 Right to health
The WMA Secretariat follows the activities of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right of
everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health,
Dr Dainius Puras, as well as health related matters addressed by the UN Human Rights
Council. Dr Puras attended the General Assembly in Reykjavik and presented a keynote
speech on “Opportunities and challenges on the way to realization of the right to physical
and mental health”. Following on from this, Dr. O. Kloiber and C. Delorme met with him
in early 2019 for an exchange of views on issues of common interest, in particular the role
of physicians in relation to solitary confinement (see item 2.3.1), and on opportunities for
cooperation.
2.2 Protecting patients and doctors
2.2.1 Actions of support
Country Case
TURKEY
Sept. 2018 – March 2019
Sources:
TMA,
Human Rights Foundation of
Turkey,
Amnesty International
The WMA Secretariat remains mobilized on the situation in Turkey.
In September 2018, the WMA was informed of criminal proceedings
brought against 14 volunteer healthcare workers who, during 79 days of
curfew in Cizre in January 2016, tried to provide care to patients in need of
urgent health interventions. These healthcare workers, including physicians
and nurses, were prosecuted for being members of a terrorist organization
and engaging in propaganda for that organization. A letter was sent to the
Turkish authorities in support of the 14 healthcare workers demanding that
the charges based on the health care provision be dropped and that they be
acquitted immediately and unconditionally. A press release was issued.
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In November 2018, the WMA sent a letter to the President of the Turkish
Grand National Assembly and the presidents of the political parties
regarding a bill related to health submitted to the Grand National
Assembly (TBMM), which includes the exclusion of physicians – who lost
their jobs under the State of Emergency Law Decrees – from employment in
private hospitals contracted with the Social Security Agency. The exclusion
also applies to newly graduated physicians without “security clearance”. In
the letter, the Chair of Council expressed her deep concerns that this
proposal not only violates the right to work of physicians by preventing
them from practicing their profession, but also deprives millions of people
from access to health as a result. The letter asked that all the necessary steps
be taken so that the bill be withdrawn immediately. A press release was
issued. The bill finally passed with substantial amendments removing some
of the restrictive conditions imposed on physicians to practice. Although
this revised proposal constitutes significant progress, the TMA considers
that there are still substantial limitations for physicians and patients. The
President of the TMA sent a thank-you letter to the WMA.
In December 2018, the WMA issued a press release expressing shock at
prison sentences handed down to several leading Turkish physicians:
Dr Sebnem Korur Fincanci (Chair of the Human Rights Foundation of
Turkey and former member of the Istanbul Chamber of Medicine Honorary
Committee), Dr Ozdemir Aktan (former President of the Turkish Medical
Association) and Dr Gençay Gürsoy (former Chair of the TMA and one of
the founders of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey). Other former
members of TMA’s boards, including Dr Feride Aksu Tanik, are facing trial
or sentences on the same charges of supporting terrorism. The charges are
based on their support for a petition protesting against civilian killings
during military operations in Cirze in 2016. They lost their jobs permanently
and their passports have been withdrawn.
On 27 December, the TMA Council members had their first trial date on
the charge of helping terrorists by issuing a press release titled “War is a
public health problem”. Further to the request of the TMA’s lawyer,
additional time was granted to examine the claims. The second trial date was
scheduled for 20 March. WMA Secretary General Dr O. Kloiber, together
with the Immediate-Past President of the Standing Committee of European
Doctors (CPME), Dr de Haller, observed the trial in Ankara and spoke to the
leaders of the Turkish Medical Association at a solidarity meeting.
VENEZUELA
Feb. 2019
Source:
Media
In February, the WMA sent out a message of solidarity with physicians and
health workers in Venezuela urging the political parties in Venezuela to put
the interests of the people first by ensuring adequate provision of health care
to all. A press release was issued.
CAMEROON
Feb. 2019
Source:
Medical Order of Cameroon
Last February, the WMA issued a press statement denouncing the burning
down of a hospital in the Cameroonian town of Kumba in the latest episode
of the country’s separatist conflict.
EGYPT
October 2018
The WMA was alerted by Amnesty International to the death penalty
sentences imposed on more than 70 protesters in Egypt, including a number
of doctors. In a letter to the Egyptian president, the leaders of the WMA
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Source:
Amnesty international
protested strongly against the treatment of the detainees arrested following
the demonstrations in 2013. In particular, they expressed concern about Dr
Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, the former Secretary General of the Egyptian
Medical Syndicate and a former presidential candidate, who has been held
in solitary confinement since his arrest for speaking out about human rights
in several television interviews. A press release was issued.
SOUTH KOREA
January 2019
Source:
KMA
In January, the Secretariat was informed by the Korean Medical Association
(KMA) of increasing incidents of violence against health professionals in
South Korea – including the recent murder of a psychiatrist by his patient. At
KMA’s request, the Secretary General, Dr. Kloiber, sent a letter to the
President of KMA expressing WMA support and strongly denouncing any
form of violence against health care. The purpose of the letter was to sustain
KMA’s awareness raising work to persuade the media and decision-makers
in the country to take violence against health care seriously and address the
problem.
SUDAN
January 2019
Sources:
Amnesty International
Physicians for Human Rights
In a letter to the Sudanese authorities, WMA President Dr Leonid Eidelman
condemned the use of violence, particularly lethal force, against protesters
and physicians during recent demonstrations in Sudan. The peaceful
demonstrations took place to protest against the collapse of the public
sector, physicians denouncing the breakdown of the health system and their
working conditions. A press release was issued.
2.2.2 Protection of health professionals in areas of armed conflict and other situations of
violence
ICRC “Health Care in Danger” (HCiD) initiative
The WMA Secretariat has a close working relationship with the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) headquarters within the context of the HCiD
initiative, which has been prolonged by the ICRC for a second phase.
In early November 2016, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the
WMA and the ICRC was formally signed by Yves Daccord, Director-General of
the ICRC, and Dr Otmar Kloiber, WMA Secretary General. This MoU develops
and consolidates the long-standing cooperation between the WMA and the ICRC
and fosters understanding on topics of common interest, including on the protection
of health professionals and patients in situations of violence, on the role of
physicians in addressing sexual violence, as well as torture and ill-treatment in
detention, and more generally in addressing Social Determinants of Health in the
context of insecurity.
Several bi-lateral meetings took place during the reporting period to discuss
opportunities for the implementation of practical measures for the protection of
healthcare within countries. In this respect, the ICRC is planning regional meetings
bringing together participants from the HCiD Community of Concern, National
Societies, ICRC delegations and other stakeholders. In 2019, regional meetings are
scheduled in the Asia-Pacific region (5-7 June in Manila) and in the middle East
(19-21 June, Beirut).
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2.3 Prevention of torture and ill-treatment
The WMA Secretariat follows relevant international activities in this area, in particular
those of the Human Rights Council.
2.3.1 Role of physicians in preventing torture and ill-treatment
Since May 2017, the WMA Secretariat has been cooperating with the Health Care
in Detention Unit of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the
Norwegian Medical Association on updating the online course for physicians
working in prisons. The ICRC is currently working on the update with the support
of external experts. The updated courses should be online
by May-June 2019.
Last February, the WMA was invited to participate in a one-year project on the
development of a supplement to the Manual on Effective Investigation and
Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment, commonly called the Istanbul Protocol (IP). The
initiative is headed jointly by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), the International
Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey,
REDRESS, the UN Committee against Torture, the UN Subcommittee for the Prevention of
Torture, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of
Torture. The purpose of the Project is to strengthen the IP with updates and
clarifications based on practical experience from users. C. Delorme is one of the
drafters and a member of the working group on ethical codes. She attended the first
editorial Committee and Primary Drafters meeting on 23-24 May in Geneva and
contributes to the revision process.
In his presentation at the last WMA General Assembly in Reykjavik (October
2018), the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to health, Dr Dainius Puras,
commented that the current WMA policy on solitary confinement could be
strengthened with a view to further protecting the rights of prisoners and clarifying
the role of physicians, particularly in light of the recent international standards
adopted in this area. Following on from this, the Secretariat met with him in
January 2019 and discussed the issues to be potentially reviewed and the
opportunity for such a revision given the increasing documentation on the harmful
impact of isolation and the recent international normative developments in this area
(UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners – known as the
Nelson Mandela Rules). A proposed revision of the WMA statement has
consequently been submitted to the Council in Santiago for consideration.
2.3.2 Psychiatric treatment – Mental health
Since 2017, the WMA Secretariat, with the support of Dr Miguel Jorge, psychiatrist
and WMA President-Elect, has been monitoring international activities related to
the promotion of mental health as a global priority and a fundamental human right,
with the aim of providing the physicians’ perspective in the discussion.
Last August, the co-chair of the Standing Committee on Ethics of the World
Psychiatric Association (WPA) contacted the WMA Secretariat to share its
concerns about the positions taken by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons
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with Disabilities, the body charged with overseeing the implementation of the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In particular, the
Committee’s General Comment #1 interpreted the CRPD as ruling out any
non-consensual interventions affecting persons with disabilities. The WMA
Secretariat replied positively to the offer to collaborate on this issue, with the
support of Dr Miguel Jorge, Chair of WMA Socio-Medical Affairs Committee.
2.4 Pain treatment
The WMA continues to be active in the field of palliative care in cooperation with the
WHO and civil society organisations working in this area. Within the context of the current
global discussion and the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on the world drug
problem, the WMA made a public statement at the session of the WHO Executive Board
(January 2017) on the public health dimension of the issue, underlining the need for a
committed public health approach encompassing the availability and access to medicines
for effective treatment and related healthcare services.
In March 2018, the advisory group on palliative care of the Pontifical Academy for Life
issued a White Paper on Global Palliative Care Advocacy including a set of “Selected
recommendations” calling on various stakeholders in the health care sector to step up
advocacy for health. As a representative of professional associations, they called upon the
WMA to especially foster the human rights aspect of access to palliative care.
2.5 Health through peace
On 7 July 2017, country representatives meeting at a United Nations conference in New
York adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the first multilateral
legally-binding instrument for nuclear disarmament to have been negotiated in 20 years.
On the occasion of the opening for signature of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear
Weapons in New York on 20 September 2017, the International Physicians for the
Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPN) together with the WMA, the International Council of
Nurses and the World Federation of Public Health Associations, adopted a joint Statement
urging Member States to sign the Treaty and to ratify it as soon as possible thereafter so
that it can enter into force.
Since then, the WMA and IPPN have been collaborating on the need to promote the global
health imperative to eliminate nuclear weapons and to advocate for the ratification of the
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Last March, IPPN asked the Secretariat to
mobilise constituent members in support of the ratification of the Treaty.
2.6 Sexual orientation and gender identity
In January, the WMA was invited by Mr Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the UN Special
rapporteur on sexual orientation and gender identity, to a consultation in collaboration with
the UNDP (UN Development Programme) aiming to identify a human rights-based
approach to data collection in the context of violence and discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity.
An expert meeting took place on 14 February in Geneva. C. Delorme represented the
WMA and introduced the session on applicable human rights and ethical norms and
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standards to data collection and management, referring to the WMA Declaration of Taipei.
It is planned for a report of the meeting to be made available.
3. Public Health
3.1 Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
3.1.1 General
In response to the first UN Political Declaration on Prevention and Control of
Non-communicable Diseases from 2011, the WHO also established the Global
Monitoring Framework as a Global Coordination Mechanism (GCM) on the
Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases. The scope and purpose of
the coordination mechanism is to facilitate and enhance the coordination of
activities, multi-stakeholder engagement and action across sectors at the local,
national, regional and global levels. The WMA is an official member of this
coordination mechanism, which was launched in March 2015.
The GCM held a general meeting in November 2018, which brought together the
members of the partnership to discuss the means and resources required to
implement national NCD responses with a view to achieving SDG target 3.4 (“to
reduce, by 2030, premature mortality from NCDs by one third and promote mental
health”). Furthermore, members reflected on how this partnership can continue to
provide added value and implement its mandate. The WMA participated at the
meeting as a member of the partnership.
During the WHO Executive Board meeting, the WMA made an intervention for the
preparation of the next high-level meeting on NCDs during the 2018 UN General
Assembly in New York and emphasized the strong commitment of the WMA in the
fight against NCDs. Following the long engagement of WMA with the WHO GCM
Secretariat, WHO appointed Dr Yokokura, WMA President, to be a member of the
WHO Civil Society Workgroup to advise the Director General on the planning
and advocacy of the High Level meeting on NCDs and on the mobilization of civil
society. The theme of the Third High Level Meeting is ‘Scaling up
multi-stakeholder and multisectoral responses for the prevention and control of
NCDs in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. Dr
Yokokura was invited to be a panel speaker at the High-Level meeting in New York
on 27 September 2018 during the plenary session on Strengthening health systems
and financing for the prevention and control of NCDs, on each country’s path
towards achieving universal health coverage, including sharing evidence-based
best practices, scientific knowledge and lessons learned.
The WMA was closely involved in the preparation process of the High-Level
Meeting and commented on the conference outcome document. The WHO Civil
Society Workgroup will continue its mandate to support WHO in the
implementation of the outcome document of the High-Level meeting in September.
3.1.2 Tobacco
The WMA is involved in the implementation process of the WHO Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC is an international treaty
that condemns tobacco as an addictive substance, imposes bans on advertising and
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promotion of tobacco, and reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of
health. The WMA attended the latest Conference of the Parties to the FCTC
meeting from 1-6 October 2018 in Geneva. At the conference, the 2018 Global
Progress Report was published showing progress in the implementation of most
articles of the convention, especially the time bound measures concerning
smoke-free environments, packaging and labelling and tobacco advertising,
promotion and a sponsorship ban.
3.1.3 Alcohol
The Secretariat maintains regular contact with the WHO staff in charge of this
topic, as well as with the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA).
In the context of the new planned collaboration between WHO and WMA for the
period 2019-2021, it is intended that the WMA will collaborate with WHO and
other relevant partners on the development and promotion of the WHO SAFER
initiative (a safer world free from alcohol related harms), in particular by fostering
the role of health professionals in reducing health risks linked to the consumption of
alcohol.
Together with GAPA, the Secretariat is currently exploring opportunities to
organise a side-event on the prevention of alcohol abuse in parallel with the World
Health Assembly next May, possibly in cooperation with other interested
stakeholders.
3.2 Communicable diseases
3.2.1 Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Project
The WMA participated in the development of the WHO guidance document
entitled ‘Guidance on Ethics of Tuberculosis Prevention, Care and Control’ in
2010. Building on this document, the WHO is now in the processes of revising the
existing document with the aim of speaking more directly to the challenges faced
by healthcare workers (HCW) and decision-makers across the globe in helping
fulfil the third principle of the End TB Strategy, namely the protection of human
rights, ethics and equity. A first workgroup meeting has taken place with the WMA
delivering a presentation on health workers’ rights and obligations.
The High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis took place prior to the UN General
Assembly this October. The WMA was represented at this event by Dr Yokokura,
WMA President. The political declaration includes a commitment to diagnose and
treat 40 million people by 2022, including 1.5 million people with drug-resistant
tuberculosis, and to provide 30 million people with preventive treatment.
3.2.2 Influenza
In May 2018, the WMA restarted its communication campaign to increase
influenza immunisation uptake. The emphasis of this year’s campaign is on
asthmatic patients. People with asthma are at high risk of severe complications
from influenza, even if their asthma is mild. With their influenza more likely to
develop into bronchitis or even pneumonia, asthma patients are more likely than
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others to end up in hospital with influenza. Additionally, influenza is also a trigger
for asthma and vice-versa When people with asthma get influenza, the virus can
worsen asthma’s chronic irritation of the bronchial mucosa. The second part of the
social media campaign ran in October and November, the start of the immunisation
season for the northern hemisphere.
Both social media campaigns together achieved 1.2 million impressions on twitter
and Facebook for the WMA, with 2,400 engagements on twitter and 4,400 on
Facebook. The spring campaign achieved the highest social media engagement in
India and the Philippines, whereas the autumn campaign garnered most interest in
Central and Eastern European countries.
3.3 Health and populations exposed to discrimination
3.3.1 Women and health
The WMA continues to follow global activities on women and health and aims to
monitor the implementation phase of the “Global plan of action on strengthening
the role of the health system in addressing interpersonal violence, in particular
against women and girls, and against children”, which was adopted by the World
Health Assembly in May 2016.
In August 2017, in line with the WMA’s related policy, the WMA Executive
Committee decided to support the United to End FGM knowledge platform. This
Platform is a new, free, online training tool to train professionals dealing with those
affected by female genital mutilation. It is currently available in nine languages,
with two modules specifically for health professionals. The Secretariat shared this
information through social media.
During the reporting period, the WMA promoted the recommendations from the
German Medical Association on the management of patients with a history of
female genital mutilation (FGM).
3.3.2 Refugees, migrants & access to health
In September 2017, the WMA joined the working group led by the IOM and WHO
to ensure that the health needs of refugees and migrants are adequately addressed in
the “Global Compact for Migration” (GCM), adopted in Marrakesh last December
by the Intergovernmental Conference on the Global Compact for Migration. The
working group agreed on a Proposed Health Component, which fed the discussion
during the GCM drafting process.
In response to the WHO initiative on migrants’ health, the WMA made a public
statement on behalf of the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) at the 70th
World Health Assembly (May 2017) welcoming WHO’s efforts in promoting
migrant health and highlighting that late or denied treatment is discriminatory and
contravenes a fundamental human right. Another statement was made during the
144th session of WHO Executive Board in January 2019, emphasizing the right to
health care of undocumented migrants and the ethical challenge physicians might
face, in particular concerning practices involving their participation to
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non-medically justified examination, diagnosis or treatment. The Statement
highlights the ethical aspects of health data collection on migrants as well.
Since July 2017, the WMA has developed a fruitful working relationship with the
Migration Health Division of the International Organisation for Migration
(IOM). Dr Poonam Dhavan attended the last Council session in Riga (April 2018)
and made a presentation at the General Assembly in Reykjavik on potential areas of
collaboration with interested WMA members. A survey of the WMA membership
was launched in late August in order to assess the work done by constituent
members in the area of migration and health.
3.4 Social determinants of health (SDH) and universal health coverage (UHC)
One of the most important global health topics this year is how countries can offer
universal health coverage to all, especially in marginalised societies, and protect citizens
from financial hardship. The UN General Assembly held the first ever High-Level Meeting
on Universal Health Coverage in New York in September 2019.
Several important conferences will take place to negotiate the outcome document of the
High-Level meeting, one of which will be the G20 meeting in Japan. To set the tone for the
health discussions at the G20 meeting, the WMA, together with the Japan Medical
Association and with the support of the Japanese Government, are organising a Health
Professional Meeting (H20): The road to Universal Health Coverage on 13 – 14 June 2019
in Tokyo, Japan.
Participants will discuss how to make sustainable universal health coverage a priority for
global politics. What can physicians and their medical associations do to support
affordable, quality health care for all?
The WMA has applied to be a member of the UHC2030 network. UHC2030 is a
multi-stakeholder platform to promote collaborative working in countries and globally on
health systems strengthening. Members advocate for increased political commitment to
UHC and facilitate accountability and knowledge sharing.
3.5 Counterfeit medical products
Counterfeit medicines are manufactured below established standards of safety, quality and
efficacy. They are deliberately and fraudulently mislabelled with respect to identity and/or
source. Counterfeiting can apply to both brand name and generic products, and counterfeit
medicines may include products with the correct ingredients but fake packaging, products
with the wrong ingredients, products without active ingredients, or products with
insufficient active ingredients. Counterfeit medical products threaten patient safety,
endanger public health, e.g. by increasing the risk of antimicrobial resistance, and
undermine patients’ trust in health professionals and health systems. The involvement of
health professionals is crucial to combating counterfeit medical products.
The WMA has joined the Fight the Fakes campaign that aims to raise awareness about the
dangers of fake medicines. Coordination among all actors involved in the manufacturing
and distribution of medicines is vital to tackle this public health threat. The website also
serves as a resource for organisations and individuals who are looking to support this effort
by outlining opportunities for action and sharing what others are doing to fight fake
medicines.
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3.6 Health and the environment
3.6.1 Climate change
The WMA continues to be involved in the UN climate change negotiations,
particularly the implementation of the Paris agreement adopted at COP21 in
December 2015. Dr Lujain Al-Qodmani and Dr Peter Orris, co-chairs of the
Environment Caucus, represented WMA at the climate change summit (COP24),
which took place on 3-14 December in Katowice, Poland. In preparation for this
Summit, the WMA contributed to the WHO Special Report on Health and
Climate Change launched at COP24. The Report highlights why health
considerations are critical to the advancement of climate action and outlines key
recommendations for policy makers.
An article from WMA President Dr Eidelman was published in the US magazine
‘Fortune’ to coincide with the COP24. In this article, Dr Eidelman wrote that if
doctors wanted to fully uphold the Declaration of Geneva’s creed that ‘the health
and well-being of my patient will be my first consideration’, they needed to take an
active role in defending their patients from the adverse effects of climate change. A
press release was issued further to the publication of the article.
The WMA public statements during the 71st
World Health Assembly (May 2018)
on health, environment and climate change and at the 144th
session of the WHO
Executive Board (January 2019). In the latter, the WMA emphasized two key
policy areas to take into consideration when addressing the wide spectrum of
climate change’s impact on health:
• Trade and economic policies, in particular trade agreements, should protect,
promote and prioritize public health over commercial interests and secure
services in the public interest, including those impacting on health and
environment.
• Agriculture and food systems’ transformations (food safety and quality) due to
climate change have a pervasive impact on health, low-income producers and
consumers of food being the most exposed.
3.6.2 Air pollution
The WHO’s First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health took place
from 30 October to 1 November 2018 in Geneva. It brought together global,
national and local partners to share knowledge and mobilize action for cleaner air
and better health. Dr Lujain Al-Qodmani, co-chair of the Environment Caucus, was
one of the keynote speakers at the session dedicated to the role of health
professionals in addressing air pollution. Dr Al-Qodmani also contributed to a
WHO discussion paper on air pollution and child health. A press release was issued.
Dr Peter Orris, Co-chair of the WMA Environment Caucus, represented the WMA
at the WHO Expert Consultation on air pollution (12-14 February 2019 in
Geneva,), which aimed to provide evidence‐based recommendations on the best
ways to communicate potential risks of the health effects of air pollution to the
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public, to health care workers and to patients and to offer indications on how to
reduce air pollution exposure.
3.6.3 Chemical safety
The WMA is a member of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals
Management (SAICM) of the Chemicals Branch of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) and supported the adoption in 2016 of the World
Health Assembly Resolution on the Role of the Health Sector in the Strategic
Approach to International Chemicals Management towards the 2020 goal and
beyond, and in 2017, of the Chemicals Roadmap, which identifies actions in
which the health sector has a supporting role to play.
During the 71st
World Health Assembly (May 2018), the WMA was invited by
WHO’s chemical safety programme and SAICM to a civil society meeting to
discuss implementation of the WHO Chemicals Roadmap and engagement in the
intersessional process beyond 2020. C. Delorme participated in the meeting and
presented the WMA position on chemicals and proposals for implementation.
Dr Peter Orris, Co-Chair of the WMA Environment Caucus, represented the WMA
at the second international meeting dedicated to the implementation of
the Minamata Mercury Convention (COP2) last November in Geneva. The
WMA sees the reduction of mercury environmental contamination as a critical
public health issue and the removal of mercury from health care as an unfinished
agenda.
3.6.4 WMA Green news
The WMA is partnered with the Florida Medical Association (FMA) on a joint
project “My Green Doctor”. This project is a medical office environmental
management service offered free of charge to members of the World Medical
Association (WMA) and the Florida Medical Association (FMA). The initial
version of My Green Doctor was launched by the FMA on World Earth Day
2010. In June 2014, the WMA and FMA agreed to work together on this project.
My Green Doctor provides a free practice management tool designed by doctors to
make medical offices more environmentally friendly. It provides everything needed
to assist practice or clinic managers in establishing their own environmental
sustainability programme: office policies, presentations, a step-by-step guide for
your Green Teams, and even free advice by telephone. The My Green Doctor
website is now available in the “What we do – Education” section of the WMA
website. Calls to action are often published on the WMA social media pages. A
press release “Physicians encouraged to go green” was issued in October 2018.
In August 2018, the WMA Secretariat launched a WMA Green List through the
Slack platform. Its purpose is to facilitate and promote an exchange of information
within the WMA membership on issues related specifically to health and the
environment. The list is open to all WMA associate members and interested
constituent members.
4. Health Systems
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4.1 Primary health care
On the occasion of the 40th
Anniversary of the Declaration of Alma-Ata, the Second
International Conference on Primary Health Care was hosted by the President of
Kazakhstan, with the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) in Astana, Kazakhstan from 25-26 October 2018. The Conference aimed to
strengthen primary health care as the foundation for UHC, building on lessons learnt over
the past four decades.
Dr Otmar Kloiber, Secretary General, served as a member of the International Advisory
Committee for the preparation of the Primary Health Care Conference. The WMA
commented on the conference declaration and the technical background papers.
Recently, the WMA Secretariat and WMA members have noticed a tendency in
international discussions, personal exchanges and public events towards a push to
downgrade primary health care. Some international organisations think physicians in
primary health care could be replaced by mid or even low-level cadres equipped with
decision support tools for diagnosis. The reason for this push can be found in the fact that
the WHO, OECD and ILO have projected a shortfall of 18 million health workers
worldwide by 2030. In addition, national health expenditure is constantly rising, many
countries have difficulties implementing universal health coverage and many people have
doubts about how to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In this challenging
environment some might think downgrading could be an easy solution. The WMA strongly
advocates for a high quality, physician-led primary health care system, which is closely
linked with health promotion, prevention, secondary and tertiary care. The WMA, together
with the other members of the World Health Professions Alliance, gave a statement during
the WHO Executive Board meeting on community health workers in UHC and supported
WHO in its statement that CHWs should not be used as a cheaper replacement for
regulated health professionals.
4.2 Patient safety
In order to address the global problems of unsafe medication practices, the WHO has
launched a Global Patient Safety Challenge on Medication Safety with the overall goal to
“reduce the avoidable harm due to unsafe medication practices by 50% worldwide by
2020”. In order to develop this initiative, the WHO invited the WMA and other relevant
stakeholders to several consultations this year.
Some years ago, the WMA, along with the WHO and the other health professions, wrote
the ‘Patient Safety Curriculum Guide- Multi Professional Edition’, and also
participated in its update a few years later. Now the WHO would like to carry out a second
revision of this curriculum guide in several steps. As the first step, the chapter ‘Improving
Medication Safety’ will be updated in such a way that it can also stand alone as a single
document. The WMA participated in several meetings to guide WHO in the development
process.
In line with the Patient Safety Curriculum Guide, WHO is developing a Country Guidance
on how to implement the Patient Safety Guide at national, local or university level. The
WMA is also involved in this process.
4.3 Antimicrobial resistance
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Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a growing concern and an important challenge to
public health. It has various aspects and different actors contribute to the problem.
The WMA participated in a WHO expert consultation meeting on health workforce
education and AMR. The outcome of this meeting was the development of the first draft of
the Global Interprofessional AMR Competency Framework for Health Workers’
Education. This tool will assist health policy planners and decision makers in countries to
work towards achieving the first objective of the WHO Global Action plan on AMR, which
aims to improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication,
education and training. It is also intended to serve as the basis for the development of a
global prototype AMR curriculum for health workers’ education and scheduled training.
The WMA commented on the first draft version together with the World Federation for
Medical Education. Our comments included the knowledge and training aspects required
to carry out a proper diagnosis and the importance of differentiating between different
origins and severity of infections, i.e. it is of utmost importance to have a deep knowledge
of diagnosis before prescribing an antibiotic in order to reduce the burden of AMR. As a
next step, WHO developed a draft Curriculum for Health Workers’ Education and Training
on AMR. The curriculum is designed to serve all cadres of health workers, including
prescribers, non-prescribers, policy makers and managers, and set an international standard
in AMR knowledge. The WMA commented on this framework.
The September 2016 Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial
Resistance called for the establishment of an Interagency Coordination Group on
Antimicrobial Resistance (IACG), in consultation with the World Health Organization,
the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Organisation for Animal Health
(OIE). The IACG’s mandate is to provide practical guidance for approaches needed to
ensure sustained effective global action to address antimicrobial resistance; and to report
back to the UN Secretary-General in 2019. In 2018, the WMA, along with the International
Federation of Medical Students (IFMSA), participated in the open consultation on the
development of a discussion paper for the IACG.
The WMA participated in the 2nd
informal consultation of Member States and relevant
partners on the global development and stewardship framework on AMR of the WHO in
October 2018.
4.4 Health workforce
In May 2016, the World Health Assembly adopted the Global Strategy on Human
Resources for Health. One new and important statement in the WHO strategy is the
emphasis that investment in HRH has a growth-inducing effect and health care itself is a
large pillar of the economy. The argument that the health sector has a growth inducing
effect on the economy is now being adopted by more and more UN agencies. As a result,
the UN Secretary General appointed a High Level Commission on Health Employment and
Economic Growth, which launched its report ‘Working for Health and Growth – Investing in
the health workforce’ in September 2016. The report gives 10 recommendations on areas
such as job creation, gender and women’s rights, education technology and crisis and
humanitarian settings. The Commission’s goal is to stimulate and guide the creation of at
least 40 million new jobs in the health and social sectors and to reduce the projected
shortfall of 18 million health workers, primarily in low and lower middle-income
countries, by 2030.
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In the international discussions on how to achieve universal health coverage and establish
an integrated primary health care model as an entry point to the health system it is often
highlighted that this is only possible if countries invest in a well trained and equipped
health workforce. WHO asked the WMA and the other members of the World Health
Professions Alliance to organise an event during the World Health Assembly to highlight
the importance of the health workforce and ask for more investment.
4.5 Violence in the health sector
The Sixth International Conference on Violence in the Health Sector took place in Toronto,
Canada on 24 – 26 October 2018. The WMA was a member of the organisation and
scientific committee in charge of the preparations for the event and promoted the event
within its membership and through social media.
4.6 Caring Physicians of the World Initiative Leadership Course
The CPW Project began with the Caring Physicians of the World book, published in
English in October 2005 and in Spanish in March 2007. Some hard copies (English and
Spanish) are still available from the WMA Secretariat upon request.
Regional conferences were held in Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and
Africa between 2005 and 2007. The CPW Project was extended to include a leadership
course organised by the INSEAD Business School in Fontainebleau, France in December
2007, in which 32 medical leaders from a wide range of countries participated. The
curriculum included training in decision-making, policy work, negotiating and coalition
building, intercultural relations and media relations. Please visit the WMA website for more
readings and videos which reflect some experiences of previous course alumni.
The eighth course was held at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, USA from 3 – 8
December 2017. The courses were made possible by educational grants provided by Bayer
HealthCare and Pfizer, Inc. This work, including the preparation and evaluation of the
course, was organised along with WMA Past President Dr Yank Coble, a member of the
Past Presidents and Chairs Network.
5. Health Policy & Education
5.1 Medical and health policy development and education
In recent years, the Center for the Study of International Medical Policies and Practices at
George Mason University, which is one of the WMA’s Cooperating Centers, has studied
the need for educational support in the field of policy creation. Surveys performed in
cooperation with the WMA found a demand for education and exchange. The Center
invited the WMA to participate in the creation of a scientific platform for international
exchange on medical and health policy development. In autumn 2009, the first issue of a
scientific journal, World Medical & Health Policy, was published by Berkeley Electronic
Press as an online journal. It has now been moved to the Wiley Press. The World Medical
& Health Policy Journal can be accessed at:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1948-4682
The Centre invited WMA Secretary General Dr Otmar Kloiber to present the new
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Declaration of Taipei and the revised Declaration of Geneva at a seminar at the Schar
School of Policy and Government in Arlington, Virginia last December.
5.2 Support for national constituent members
See item 2.2.1
April 2019 Council 212/Activity Report/Apr2019
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CHAPTER II PARTNERSHIP & COLLABORATION
During the reporting period, the WMA Secretariat held bilateral meetings with the WHO and staff of
other UN agencies on the following areas: Prevention of alcohol abuse, mental health, violence
against women, the environment, the migration of health professionals and the prevention of torture.
In addition, the Secretariat voiced the WMA’s concerns in various public settings as follows1
:
1. World Health Organization (WHO)
Memorandum of Understanding between WHO and WMA
In April 2018 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the World Health Organisation and
the World Medical Association to reaffirm and consolidate co-operation between the two
organisations.
WHO Executive Board, January 2019, Geneva, Switzerland:
The WMA made public statements on a series of issues. For more information (agenda, working
documents and resolutions), see http://apps.who.int/gb/index.html
WHO’s First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, Geneva, 30 October – 1
November 2019
A press release was issued.
WHO Expert Consultation on air pollution, Geneva, 12-14 February 2019
General Meeting of the WHO Global Coordination Mechanism on Noncommunicable Diseases
in November 2018, Geneva, Switzerland
WHO Global Consultation for Setting Priorities for Global Patient Safety in collaboration with the
Centre for Clinical Risk Management and Patient Safety, Department of Health
2. UNESCO Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law
In recent years, the WMA has supported the “UNESCO Chair in Bioethics World Conference on
Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law” organised by the UNESCO Bioethics Chair, Prof. Dr
Amnon Carmi.
The WMA again participated in the 13th
World Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and
Health Law from 27-29 November 2018 in Jerusalem, Israel. The conference serves as a
platform to discuss WMA’s current policy with physicians, ethicists and other scientists.
3. Other UN agencies
AGENCY ACTIVITIES
Human Rights Council of the United
Nations, in particular:
UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on the right of • Monitoring the SRs’ activities
1
More information on the activities mentioned is set out under the relevant section of the report.
April 2019 Council 212/Activity Report/Apr2019
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everyone to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental
health (Dr D. Puras)
• Ongoing exchange of information
• Participation of the SR in the 2018 WMA
General Assembly in Reykjavik
• Follow-up meeting in January 2019
Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment (Dr Nils Melzer)
• Monitoring the SR’s activities
• Contact to be made with new SR
Special rapporteur on sexual orientation and
gender identity (Victor Madrigal-Borloz)
 WMA part of a consultation on data
collection on sexual orientation and gender
identity (January 2019 onwards)
High Commissioner for Human Rights (Mr
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein)
The WMA took part of the consultation process
within the framework of the UN Resolution on
mental health and human rights adopted in
September 2016 and continually monitors the
HCHR’s activities.
UNAIDS Regular exchange of information
OECD Regular exchange of information
International Organisation for Migration
(IOM)
 Regular exchange of information.
 The development of a Memorandum of
Understanding is being considered.

WHO and World Bank Dr Yokokura gave one of the keynote speeches
at the Universal Health Coverage Forum,
December 2017 in Tokyo, Japan
4. World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)
Based on WHPA priorities, the members of WHPA delivered a statement on universal health
coverage, human resources for health, and water and sanitation hygiene at the 144th session of the
WHO Executive Board in January 2019.
5. WMA Cooperating Centers
The WMA is proud to enjoy the support of five academic cooperating centres. The WMA
Cooperating Centers bring specific scientific expertise to our projects and/or policy work,
improving our professional profile and outreach.
WMA Cooperating Center Areas of cooperation
Center for the Study of International Medical
Policies and Practices,
George-Mason-University, Fairfax,
Virginia, USA
Policy development, microbial resistance, public
health issues (tobacco), publishing the World
Medical and Health Policy Journal.
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Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine,
University of Tübingen, Germany
Revising the Declaration of Geneva, medical
ethics
Institut de droit de la santé, Université de
Neuchâtel, Switzerland
International health law, developing and
promoting the Declaration of Taipei, medical
ethics, deontology, sports medicine
Steve Biko Center for Bioethics, University
of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South
Africa
Revising the Declaration of Helsinki, medical
ethics, bioethics
Institute for Environmental Research,
Yonsei University College of Medicine,
South Korea
Environmental health, climate change and health
issues
6. World Continuing Education Alliance (WCEA)
The World Medical Association signed an agreement with the WCEA to provide an online
education portal that will not only enable the WMA to host its online education, but also offers an
opportunity for member associations to develop their own portals and online content. This offer
is directed specifically at medical associations and societies that wish to engage in providing
online education. Interested groups, medical schools or academies are invited to contact the
WMA Secretary General (secretariat@wma.net) for more information. The educational platform
was launched in June 2018.
7. Other partnerships or collaborations with Health and Human Rights Organizations
Organisation Activity
Amnesty International Ongoing contacts (exchange of information and support)
during the reporting period, in particular on the situations in
Turkey, Egypt, Sudan and Iran.
Human Rights Watch Regular contact on issues of common interest.
Global Alliance on Alcohol
Policy (GAPA) and its
members
Regular exchange of information.
International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC)
Partners on the Health Care in Danger (HCiD) project since
September 2011.
Permanent cooperation with the Health in Detention and HCiD
Departments.
Memorandum of understanding between the ICRC and the
WMA signed in November 2016.
International Council of
Military Medicine (ICMM)
A Memorandum of Understanding between the ICMM and the
WMA was signed at the WMA General Assembly in October
2017 (Chicago).
Council for International
Organizations of Medical
Sciences (CIOMS)
Development of guidance for the scientific community in
medicine and health care in general. The WMA is a member
and currently represented on the Executive Board and
participates in various work groups in matters of research in
resource poor settings, patient information and healthy research
subjects (planned).
Medical Human Rights
Network (IFHHRO)
Regular exchange of information on human rights and health
matters.
International Federation of Internship program since 2013 (3 students in 2013 and 2
April 2019 Council 212/Activity Report/Apr2019
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Medical Students
Associations (IFMSA)
students in 2014).
Regular collaboration, mostly in relation to WHO statutory
meetings.
Participation of WMA officers and officials in the pre-World
Health Assembly IFMSA conference in Geneva.
International Federation of
Associations of
Pharmaceutical Physicians
(IFAPP)
Cooperation on issues of human experimentation and
pharmaceutical development, the role of physicians in that
process. A memorandum of understanding was signed at the
WMA General Assembly, October 2017 (Chicago).
University of Pennsylvania
International Internship
Program
Annual internship program on health policy, public health,
human rights, project management. Usually 2-3 students come
as interns to our office for the summer. The programme has
been running since 2014.
International Rehabilitation
Council for Torture Victims
(IRCT)
Regular exchange of information and joint actions on specific
cases or situations.
Global Climate & Health
Alliance (GCHA)
Regular exchange of information and ad hoc collaboration
within the context of the UN climate change negotiations.
New Jersey Medical School
Global TB Institute
The WMA is working with the New Jersey Medical School
Global TB Institute and the University Research Company
(URC) to update its online TB refresher course for physicians
with the support of the US Agency for International
Development (USAID).
Safeguarding Health in
Conflict Coalition
Observer status in the coalition.
Regular exchange of information.
World Coalition Against
The Death Penalty
Regular exchange of information, in particular regarding
individual cases requiring international support.
World Veterinary
Association
Co-organisation of the Global Conference on One Health,
21-22 May 2015 in Madrid, Spain in collaboration with the
Spanish medical and veterinary associations. 2nd
Global
Conference on One Health, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka
Prefecture, Japan, 10-11 November 2016. Common advocacy
on matters like AMR, zoonotic diseases and food safety.
US Defense Health Board –
Ethics Subcommittee
WMA Past President, Dr Cecil Wilson, represented the WMA
at two sessions of the Defense Health Board – Ethics
Subcommittee in 2014 and 2015 advocating for always
allowing physicians in military service to respect medical
ethics, even in conflict. The report of the Board is available on
our website.
Association for the
Prevention of Torture
Exchange of information on the implementation of the
Convention against Torture with regard to the role of
physicians in preventing torture and ill treatment.
Physicians for Human
Rights (PHR)
Regular exchange of information and joint actions on specific
cases or situations. A meeting took place in early March 2019
with the representative of the new set up office of PHR-Europe.
International Physicians for
the Prevention of Nuclear
War (IPPNW)
Exchange of information and joint actions, in particular in the
context of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear
Weapons.
CHAPTER III COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH
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In July 2017 a new member of staff joined the WMA Secretariat. Ms Magda Mihaila is a journalist
and communications specialist who is now helping our team improve the way we get out messages to
our members and into our social media stream.
1. WMA Newsletter
In April 2012, the WMA Secretariat started a bi-monthly e-newsletter for its members. The
Secretariat appreciates any comments and suggestions for developing this service and making it
as useful for members as possible.
2. WMA social media (Twitter and Facebook)
In 2013, the WMA launched its official Facebook and Twitter accounts (@medwma). The
Secretariat encourages members to spread the word within their associations that they can follow
the WMA’s activities on Twitter and via Facebook. Besides communicating WMA activities and
policies, the accounts have proved a powerful tool for supporting WMA Constituent Members in
difficult political and social contexts.
3. The World Medical Journal
The World Medical Journal (WMJ) is issued every 3 months and includes articles on WMA
activities and feature articles by members and partners. The 60th
anniversary edition was
published as a final printed copy in 2014. It transferred to an electronic format in 2015, which is
available on the WMA website. The Journal is edited by Dr Peteris Apinis and Prof. Elmar
Doppelfeld and technically managed by Ms Maira Sudraba of the Latvian Medical Association.
4. WMA Annual Report
The WMA has started issuing an Annual report. One for the year 2017 and 2018 have been issued
so far. The report highlights the main activities of WMA, focusing on the report of the President,
the events organised around the topics such as Health, Environment, NCDs, Influenza, Human
Rights, but also on the categories of WMA Membership and the Financial Report. It is available
both on the WMA website and a very limited number of copies are distributed at the WMA
Council and General Assembly.
5. Meeting with Arab Medical Union leaders
Upon the invitation of the President of the Kuwait Medical Association, who at the time also
chaired the Arab Medical Union, the WMA Chair of Council, Dr Ardis Hoven, and the Secretary
General had an opportunity to attend the Scientific Conference of the Kuwait Medical
Association and the coinciding meeting of Arab Medical Union leaders. The Chair delivered a
presentation on the WMA to the leaders of the Arab Medical Union, most of which are not
members of the WMA, and invited them to join. Later the Chair was given the opportunity to
participate in a panel discussion about End-of-Life issues, which mainly dealt with the provision
of palliative care, the withdrawal or withholding of futile treatment and the respect for patient
will (denial of treatment).
In another section, the Secretary General presented the WMA Declarations of Taipei and
Geneva.
April 2019 Council 212/Activity Report/Apr2019
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6. Secondments / internships
We have been running an internship programme with the IFMSA since 2013 (one intern in
October-December from Indonesia and one in January-February from Burundi), with the
University of Pennsylvania since 2014 (two interns have been selected for the summer of 2019)
and in 2016 we started an internship programme with the Palack University Olomouc in the
Czech Republic.
CHAPTER IV OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
1. Advocacy
In April 2017, the Council decided to discontinue the Advocacy Workgroup and to replace it
with a new Advocacy and Communications Advisory Panel with the mission to provide input
and guidance to:
 Enhance the promotion of WMA policies and positions among the NMAs and to relevant
external organisations, associations, and institutions; and
 Recommend advocacy and communications strategies to increase the visibility and
positive impact of WMA policies and activities.
The Panel is chaired by Dr Ashok Zachariah Philip, Malaysian Medical Association and
composed of the following members: Israel Medical Association (IsMA), South African
Medical Association (SAMA), Spanish Medical Association (CGCoM), American Medical
Association (AMA), Japanese Medical Association (JMA), French Medical Association
(CNOM), Junior Doctors Network (JDN).
The 3-year term of the mandate of current panel members will end in April 2019.
2. Paperless meetings
At its 188th
meeting, the WMA Council expressed its desire to reduce its environmental impact
by going paperless. Since the 189th
Council meeting, documents posted on the website before the
meeting have no longer been provided at the venue in print. Council members and officials are
responsible for downloading documents from the members’ area of the WMA website and
bringing them to the meeting via electronic media or on paper, if desired. Documents developed
on site during the meeting are available online via a WiFi connection or in print. The Secretariat
introduced box.com at the 197th
Council meeting as a parallel sharing and synchronizing tool for
official WMA documents. In October 2016, the WMA General Assembly in Taipei decided to
introduce entirely paperless meetings provided a suitable WiFi connection is available.
3. Governance
A Workgroup on Governance Review was set up at the Council Session in Moscow in 2015
under the chair of Dr Rutger Jan van der Gaag. The Workgroup delivered its final report to the
207th
Council in Chicago after extended discussions with Constituent Members. The discussions
and findings of the group will provide input for the strategic development of the WMA. It has
already triggered the installation of an information session for delegates before the General
Assembly, increased communication through social media and an initiative for our members to
April 2019 Council 212/Activity Report/Apr2019
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consider rotations for council positions. At the General Assembly in Reykjavik, an additional
WMA Region was approved to guarantee members from the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Council representation.
4. New staff at the WMA Secretariat
In October 2018, a new member of staff joined the WMA Secretariat to replace Mr Lamine
Smaali who retired in 2017. Ms Marie Isabelle Pin Harry is responsible for technical and general
services, overseeing facility maintenance and relationships with the tenants. She also assists the
WMA Associate Membership.
CHAPTER V ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Secretariat wishes to record its appreciation of member associations and individual members for
their interest in, and cooperation with, the World Medical Association and its Council during the past
year. We thank all those who have represented the WMA at various meetings and gratefully
acknowledge the collaboration and guidance received from the officers, as well as the Association’s
editors, its legal, public relations and financial advisors, staff of constituent members, council
advisors, associate members, friends of the association, cooperating centres, partner organizations
and officials.
We wish to mention the excellent working relationships we have with colleagues and experts in
international, regional and national organizations, be they (inter-)governmental or private. We highly
appreciate their willingness and efforts to enable our cooperation.

03.04.2019