Letter-to-the-attention-of-Honorable-Dr_-Haider-al-Abadi—11-Nov_-2014

THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
L’ASSOCIATION MEDICALE MONDIALE, INC
ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL, INC
CIB Immeuble A «Le Keynes» Website : www.wma.net Postal Address :
13-A Chemin du Levant Telephone : (33) 4 50 40 75 75 CS 5001
01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Fax : (33) 4 50 40 59 37 01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE
France E-mail address : wma@wma.net France
Honorable Dr. Haider al-Abadi
Prime Minister
Republic of Irak
albadi2@hotmail.com
nazdar_sherzad@yahoo.com
media@pmo.gov.iq
10 November 2014
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to you on behalf of the World Medical Association (WMA), the global federation of
National Medical Associations representing the millions of physicians worldwide. Acting on behalf
of patients and physicians, the WMA endeavours to achieve the highest possible standards of
medical care, ethics, education and health-related human rights for all people. As such, the WMA
plays a key role in promoting good practice, medical ethics and medical accountability
internationally.
Our attention has been drawn to the worrying health conditions in the Camp Liberty based in Iraq.
According to testimonies and reports from human rights organisations1
, the basic rights of the 2700
residents – such as access to physicians and medicine, the confidentiality of physician-patient
relationship or the right of patients to have interpreter and accompanying nurses when needed – are
frequently violated. Furthermore, numerous reported cases relate to situations where hospitalisation
of patients and purchase of medicine have been prevented. Other examples include cancellation of
medical appointments, delayed transfers of patients to hospital, or denial permission to travel
outside the Camp to receive treatment. These on-going obstructions have resulted in the rapid
deterioration of the health conditions of several patients of the Camp Liberty and even in the death
of some.
We are extremely concerned by this situation that reveal flagrant violations of medical ethics
principles and human rights standards. The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental health is a fundamental element of human rights
enshrined in article 14 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights that
Iraq has ratified in 1971.
1
Including: Amnesty International, France Libertés, ACAT Suisse, Women’s Human Rights International Association,
Fondation Danielle Mitterand.
WMA page 2
We urge the Iraqi authorities to respect its commitment and take action as a matter of urgency in
order to ensure to the residents of the Camp Liberty full access to adequate health care facilities,
whether inside or outside the camp. It is also fundamental that health personnel work with the
assurance that medical ethics principles, such as confidentiality, are entirely respected without any
reservation.
I thank you for your attention and trust that you will take promptly all the necessary steps related to
our demands.
Sincerely,
Dr. Xavier Deau
President of the World Medical Association
Cc: Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Dr Dainus Puras, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health