SecGen Report-Apr2018

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THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
Secretary General’s Report
to the
209th
WMA Council Session
(October 2017 – March 2018)
April 2018 SecGen Report/Apr2018
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Table of contents
Chapter I Ethics, Advocacy & Representations
1. Ethics
1.1 Declaration of Taipei
1.2 Declaration of Geneva
1.3 Regional discussions on End-of-Life issues
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
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
3.5 Counterfeit medical products
3.6 Food security and nutrition
3.7 Health and the environment
4. Health Systems
4.1 Comparing healthcare systems using PROMS & PREMS
4.2 Patient safety
4.3 One Health
4.4 Antimicrobial resistance
4.5 Health workforce
4.6 Violence in the health sector
4.7 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
1. World Health Organization (WHO)
2. UNESCO Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law
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3. Other UN agencies
4. World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)
5. WMA Cooperating Centers
6. Other partnerships or collaborations
Chapter III Communication & Outreach
1. WMA newsletter
2. WMA social media (Twitter and Facebook)
3. The World Medical Journal
4. WMA African Initiative
5. Meeting with Arab Medical Union leaders
6. Secondments / internships
Chapter IV Operational Excellence
1. Advocacy
2. Paperless meetings
3. Governance
Chapter V Acknowledgement
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CHAPTER I ETHICS, ADVOCACY & REPRESENTATIONS
1. Ethics
1.1 Declaration of Taipei
The Declaration of Taipei on Ethical Considerations Regarding Health Databases and
Biobanks provides guidance for the protection of persons who allow their health data
and/or specimens to be used for future research or other uses. In some aspects, this is a
logical continuation of the safeguards provided by the Declaration of Helsinki; extending
them into virtual environments and scenarios such as administrative or commercial uses.
An important focus of the Declaration of Taipei is maintaining the protection provided by
informed consent. Since information about potential future uses of data or specimens is
naturally incomplete, the Declaration offers a multi-step mechanism to replace part of
informed consent. This is achieved through a predetermined governance structure and an
assessment by an ethics committee.
As regulations on health and medical databases are currently under discussion, the
dissemination of the Declaration is being actively pursued with urgency. We are grateful
to our members and partner organisations which already use the Declaration or advocate
for it.
1.2 Declaration of Geneva
Both before and since its adoption at the General Assembly in Chicago, the Declaration of
Geneva has encountered a remarkable and overwhelmingly positive reception. The WMA
will use upcoming ethics conferences and other events to promote this revised physicians’
pledge. We offer to explain the revision process and provide an in depth analysis of the
wording that has been used. Again, we are grateful to the early adopters of the Declaration
of Geneva and thank our members and partners for using and disseminating it.
1.3 Regional Discussions on End of Life issues
At the 200th
Council Session in Oslo in April 2015 the WMA policies on physician-assisted
suicide (PAS) and euthanasia were reaffirmed. However, a controversial discussion about
the wording and effect of the current policies led to the submission of a policy document by
the Royal Dutch and the Canadian medical associations to the 201st
Council Session in
Moscow in October 2015. The authors of the document ultimately requested its withdrawal
at the 203rd Council Session in Buenos Aires in April 2016. Instead, the Council mandated
the Executive Committee to come back with a plan for discussing end-of-life issues,
including palliative care, living wills, physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia. At
the 204th
Council Session in Taipei in October the Executive Committee invited its
members, especially those from Latin America, Africa and Asia to hold regional meetings
to discuss these issues. This took into account the observation that the previous discussion
was dominated mainly by voices from Europe and North America.
Since then four regional discussions have been held in Latin America, (Rio de Janeiro,
March 2017 in cooperation with CONFEMEL), Asia and the Pacific (Tokyo, September
2017, in cooperation with CMAAO), Europe (Vatican City, November 2017 in
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cooperation with the Pontifical Academy for Life) and in Africa (Abuja, January-February
2018).
Reports from those meetings are attached to this document. The discussions will be
continued on the global level at the joint WMA-Iceland Medical Association Ethics
Conference in Reykjavik next October.
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. Further to a meeting between Dr Puras, Dr O. Kloiber and C. Delorme in
September 2017 (see item 2.3.3), it was agreed to maintain contact with a regular exchange
of views on current topics of mutual interest.
2.2 Protecting patients and doctors
2.2.1 Actions of support
Country Case
TURKEY
January- February
2017
Sources:
TMA,
Human Rights
Foundation of
Turkey,
Amnesty
International
Following a public statement by the Turkish Medical Association (TMA)
in mid-January stressing that war is a public health problem and calling for
peace its leaders have been confronted with a campaign of intimidation and
threats. The Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs filed a criminal complaint
against the TMA and the Ankara head prosecutor opened an investigation.
In addition, the Minister of Health filed another lawsuit demanding all
TMA’s Central Council members to be dismissed from their position on
the grounds that they are acting beyond the scope of the mission of the
TMA. The 11 members of the Central Council of TMA were arrested and
the TMA office was searched.
The WMA issued an immediate press release and a joint letter with other
health and human rights organisations (PHR, CPME, IRCT, EFMA) was
sent to the Turkish authorities (Link to the letter:
https://www.wma.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Joint-letter-of-support-
TMA-January-2018-final.pdf). A second press release was issued
(https://www.wma.net/news-post/global-medical-bodies-in-joint-call-to-p
resident-erdogan/).
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health was alerted.
The Secretariat sent a call for support to all WMA members and partners.
Many national medical associations reacted immediately with letters,
tweets and other social media support. The TMA Council members were
finally released on the 2nd
and the rest on 5th
February, but an official
investigation is continuing on the basis of the charges of «Making
propaganda in favour of a terrorist organization” and «Provoking people to
be rancorous and hostile”.
In the latest developments, the Turkish authorities have announced their
intention to amend legislation pertaining to professional organisations
(including the TMA, and organisations of lawyers, architects, etc.), which
used to enjoy relative autonomy from government. The amendments
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envisaged include scrapping compulsory membership; making it possible
to have more than one organisation representing a specific profession,
flexible and changed election procedures. This amounts to abolishing these
organisations’ authority and function to supervise compliance with
professional ethics and makes these organisations weaker.
In addition, Prof. Onur Hamzaoglu – an internationally renowned
researcher and practitioner, recently re-elected to the Executive Board of
the International Association of Health Policy in Europe at its 18th
International Conference held at the end of September 2017 – was arrested
on 9th
February by the Turkish police. Prof. Hamzaoglu is also the editor of
Society and Physicians journal, a scientific journal on health policies
published by the TMA. He is being prosecuted for complicity in terrorism.
The WMA Secretariat remains mobilized and ready to take further action.
ETHIOPIA
September 2017 –
February 2018
Source:
Swedish Medical
Association
Amnesty
International
The Secretariat received a call to sign a petition in support of the
Ethiopian-born Swedish cardiologist, Dr Fikru Maru, who has been in
detention for 4 years in Ethiopia. In May 2017, he was cleared of all prior
charges, but instead of releasing him, new charges were brought against
him and 37 other prisoners for being involved in a prison fire and revolt (Dr
Fikru was in hospital with a life-threatening condition when the fire
occurred). The Secretariat contacted the Swedish Medical Association,
which confirmed the case and was positive about the WMA taking action.
Dr Ketan Desai signed the petition on behalf of the WMA. The information
was shared on Facebook and Twitter.
The situation having not changed since the Summer, the Secretariat
discussed taking further actions with the Swedish Medical Association
(SwMA) and Amnesty’s Ethiopian desk officer. The WMA wrote to the
Ethiopian Prime minister and President (with copies and an accompanying
letter sent to the new Ethiopian WHO Director General Dr Tedros
Adhanom Ghebreyesus). On its part, the SwMA wrote to the Swedish
embassy in Ethiopia.
IRAN
February 2018
Source:
Amnesty
International
Physicians for
Human Rights
Dr Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-born Swedish resident and academic, has
been sentenced to death for “corruption on earth” after a grossly unfair
trial. His conviction was based on torture-tainted “confessions” that he was
forced to make while in solitary confinement without access to his lawyer
or family. Amnesty International and Physicians for Human Rights
consider him a prisoner of conscience. The Secretariat wrote an initial letter
last November and issued a press release
(https://www.wma.net/news-post/wma-urges-immediate-release-of-jailed-
physician/).
Dr Djalali’s last appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court in February. A
second press release was issued on 13th
February calling for his immediate
release
(https://www.wma.net/news-post/wma-appeals-for-immediate-release-of-j
ailed-physician/).
2.2.2 Protection of health professionals in areas of armed conflict and other situations of
violence
ICRC “Health Care in Danger” (HCiD) initiative
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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.
On 22 November 2017, the ICRC and the University of Geneva organised an event
on the MOOC (massive Open Online Courses) on Violence Against Health
Care (https://www.coursera.org/learn/violence-against-healthcare) to discuss the
best ways to promote and disseminate this tool within our networks. M. Mihaila and
C. Delorme from the WMA Secretariat attended the meeting.
The ICRC and the WMA are again planning a side-event during this year’s World
Health Assembly in May, possibly with the Permanent Missions of Switzerland,
Canada and Nigeria, the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans
Frontières (MSF) and other partners such as the International Committee of
Military Medicine (ICMM) and the International Hospital Federation (IHF). The
event will focus on Health Care in Danger best practices with a vareity of country
examples.
During the reporting period, C. Delorme established contact with the Disaster Risk
Management Focal Point at WHO to discuss ways to promote and support the role
of the health workforce in reducing risks to health from emergencies, strengthening
emergency preparedness and building the resilience of communities.
During the 142nd
WHO Executive Board meeting, the WMA presented a public
statement
(https://www.wma.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/3.3-Public-health-preparednes
s-and-response-WHPA.pdf) on behalf of the World Health Professions Alliance
(WHPA) on WHO’s work in Health Emergencies.
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 Cooperation with the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
(IRCT)
The Secretariat exchanged information on a regular basis with the IRCT during the
reporting period, in particular regarding the recently adopted WMA proposed
Statement on forced anal examinations to substantiate same-sex sexual activity and
on the role of physicians in preventing torture
2.3.2 Role of physicians in preventing torture and ill-treatment
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Last May, the WMA Secretariat was contacted by the Health Care in Detention
Unit of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to discuss an
opportunity to update the online course for physicians working in prisons.
Discussions are ongoing, including with the Norwegian Medical Association,
which played a key role in developing and hosting the original courses.
In 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 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 participate in the working group on
ethical codes as one of the drafters.
2.3.3 Psychiatric treatment – Mental Health
Last June, the WMA Secretariat prepared written comments on the recent report on
mental health by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Health, Dr Dainius
Purras (Report A/HRC/35/21). These comments were prepared with a key
contribution by Dr Miguel Jorge (Brazilian Medical Association), psychiatrist and
Chair of the WMA Socio-Medical Affairs Committee, with the aim of providing
the physicians’ perspective in the global discussion on the challenges and
opportunities related to the promotion of mental health as a global priority and a
fundamental human right. The written comments were then shared with the World
Psychiatric Association. Dr Puras replied by welcoming our report and a meeting
took place in September to discuss the matter further. The WMA Secretariat was
represented at this meeting by Dr O. Kloiber and C. Delorme.
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.
On 1st
March, 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
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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.
In September, the WMA Secretariat met with a representative of the International
Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPN) to explore possible ways of
collaboration on the global health imperative to eliminate nuclear weapons in line with the
WMA Statement on Nuclear Weapons by using the momentum of the Treaty adoption. The
WMA and IPPN are exchanging views on a regular basis within this framework. IPPN
offered its assistance on the revision of WMA Statement on Nuclear Weapons in order to
include reference to the recently adopted Treaty.
On the occasion of the opening for signature of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear
Weapons in New York on 20th
September, the 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.
3. Public Health
3.1 Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
3.1.1 General
Member States and the WHO have made progress in fulfilling their commitments
according to the 2011 UN Political Declaration on Prevention and Control of
NCDs and adopted a Global Monitoring Framework with a set of global NCD
targets, a Global NCD Action Plan 2013-2020, and a formalized UN Interagency
Task Force on NCDs, which will coordinate a UN system-wide response to NCDs.
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, and has attended
several WHO GCM/NCD meetings. Dr Bente Mikkelsen, head of the GCM
secretariat, is planning to present their work and achievements at the WMA General
Assembly in Reykjavík. The purpose of this presentation is also to discuss possible
cooperation with the WMA and how physicians can support activities against
NCDs.
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 empgasised 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
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and advocacy of the high level meeting on NCDs and on the mobilization of civil
society.
Dr Julia Tainijoki was invited by WHO to present WMA’s perspective and
experience on health literature and education at the third meeting of the WHO
GCM/NCD Working Group on Health Education and Health Literacy for
NCDs in February in Geneva. The Working Group was established to recommend
ways and means of encouraging Member States and non-State actors to promote
health education and health literacy for NCDs, with a particular focus on
populations with low health awareness and/or literacy.
At the same time, the WMA supported the launch of the publication of a new
speaking book for children with cancer. Previously, and together with other
partners, the WMA has supported the publication of speaking books on high blood
pressure, tobacco use cessation, kids in hospital and clinical trials.
On the occasion of the 20th
European Health Forum in Gastein, Austria in October
2017 WHO invited WMA to speak at the WHO workshop «investing in healthy
cities: «insuring” prevention». The workshop focused on investing in healthy
cities as a means to improve population health and well-being.
At the Global Dialogue on Partnerships for Sustainable Financing of NCD
Prevention and Control in Copenhagen Denmark from 9-11 April 2018 the WMA
organised a session on ‘A vital investment: Scaling up health workforce for NCDs’.
The aim of this session was to highlight the importance of the health workforce in
the fight against NCDs and the investment needs and roles of various stakeholders
in strengthening countries’ capacities to develop HRH policies and plans in line
with national health strategies to achieve UHC and SDG3.4.
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
promotion of tobacco, and reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of
health. The WMA attends every Conference of the Parties meeting. The next
Conference of the Parties to the FCTC meeting will take place from 1-6 October
2018 in Geneva.
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). During the 70th
session of the World Health Assembly last May, the WMA took part in a Civil
Society consultation meeting organised by GAPA and the NCD Alliance in order to
discuss strategies to put alcohol back on the agenda of the WHO governing bodies.
The WMA was also invited by GAPA to an informal meeting on the same topic
with interested Member States.
In June, Clarisse Delorme represented the WMA at the WHO Forum on Alcohol,
Drugs and Addictive Behaviours, which took place at WHO headquarters in
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Geneva. A statement was made recommending the development of all-inclusive
policies addressing the root causes of alcohol patterns as well as strengthening
health systems to improve countries’ capacity to develop policy and lead actions
that target alcohol problems.
Last February, the Secretariat received a request from IOGT International and
GAPA to support a joint letter sent on 1st
February to the Global Fund denouncing
their partnership with Heineken and emphasizing the dangers inherent in
collaborating with the producers and marketers of hazardous products such as
alcohol.
(http://iogt.org/open-letters/joint-open-letter-concern-regarding-global-fund-partn
ering-heineken/). The letter was endorsed by a number of regional and national
organisations and networks. The WMA joined the mobilisation and decided to
support the initiative as well. The news was shared on Twitter and Facebook.
3.1.4 Physical Activity
The WHO is in the process of developing a draft global action plan to promote
physical activity. The WMA was invited to be member of the strategic advisory
network to support and guide the WHO Secretariat in the development of this
Global Action Plan on Physical Activity, and attended the first technical advisory
meeting in June 2017. Recognising the importance of physical activity to wellbeing
and the attainment of the sustainable development goals, the action plan offers the
global community a unique opportunity to elevate the profile and set a new
ambitious agenda for united action in creating physical activity opportunities for
all. The WHO Secretariat hosted an open web-based consultation on a first draft of
the report from August to mid-September.
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.
3.2.2 Influenza
The WMA was invited by Ms Françoise Grossetête, Member of the European
Parliament, and Prof. Thomas Szucs to be a members of the steering group to
develop an EU Manifesto on Influenza Vaccination, which aims to help shift the
agenda at European and national level in support of influenza vaccination. The
Manifesto confirms the need for stronger policy-driven actions to reduce the burden
of influenza and emphasises the importance of the health workforce in this topic.
The digital launch was on 6th
March 2018 with the physical launch planned for 24th
March 2018.
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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.
Last August, in conformity with 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 European
languages, with two modules specifically for health professionals. The Secretariat
shared this information through social media.
3.3.2 Ageing
The WMA participated in the WHO consultation on the Global Strategy and Action
Plan on Ageing and Health, which was adopted by Members States at the last
World Health Assembly in May 2016, and is monitoring the implementation phase
of the Global Strategy.
For more activities in the area of ageing, please see Chapter III, section 4.
3.3.3 Zero HIV-related stigma & discrimination in health care settings
In March 2017, the Secretariat shared with WMA members the UNAIDS reference
document on eliminating discrimination in health care. This report aims to serve as
a reference for policy-makers and other key stakeholders engaged in shaping
policies and programmes to regulate healthcare and eliminate discrimination and
other structural barriers to achieving healthy lives for all. The WMA has been
involved in this initiative since it started in November 2015.
3.3.4 Refugees, migrants & access to health
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.
Clarisse Delorme was invited to present the WMA’s views on migrants’ health at the
Youth Pre-World Health Assembly Workshop organised by the International
Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA) on 19 May in Geneva.
In July, the WMA Secretariat, represented by Dr O. Kloiber, C. Delorme and M.
Mihaila, met with representatives of the Migration Health Division of the
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to explore potential cooperation
and exchange information.
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Further to this meeting, the WMA has been invited to join a 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), the global
UN process currently taking place, which will culminate in a final outcome
agreement by the UN General Assembly further to intergovernmental negotiations
in 2018. The working group – composed of representatives from WHO and IOM in
close cooperation with ILO, OHCHR, UNFPA, UNAIDS1
, the World Bank and
other stakeholders including the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC),
the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)
and WMA – met in September and agreed on a Proposed Health Component, which
should feed the discussion around the zero draft GCM. The Proposed Health
Component for the GCM is available on the GCM website for Member States and
partners.
3.4 Social determinants of health (SDH) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
The WMA is actively engaged with the WHO Department of Health Workforce and is
participating in a Steering Committee to develop an eBook on the Social Determinants of
Health Approach to health workforce education and training. The project is part of the
WHO’s work to implement the guidelines on “Transforming and scaling up health
professionals’ education and training”, launched in Recife in 2013. The project also
supports World Health Assembly Resolution WHA66.23 “Transforming health workforce
education in support of universal health coverage”. The collaboration involves
participation in meetings organized by WHO and providing technical assistance and
guidance for the eBook.
During the Universal Health Coverage Forum in December 2017 in Tokyo, Japan Dr.
Yokokura, WMA president, spoke at the opening session. The goal of the Forum was to
mobilize broad political support for accelerating progress towards UHC and the SDGs,
including health security and pandemic preparedness. This forum brought together over
300 participants, including heads of government, ministers of finance and health, and
senior representatives from bi- and multi-lateral institutions, civil society organizations,
think tanks, and academia. At the forum WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus and WMA President Dr Yoshitake Yokokura agreed to strengthen the
collaboration of both organizations on Universal Health Coverage and Emergency
preparedness. A Memorandum of Understanding is planned to be signed on 5th
April 2018
in Geneva.
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
1
ILO: International Labour Organisation – OHCHR: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights –
UNFPA: United Nations Population Funds – UNAIDS: United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
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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.
3.6 Food security and nutrition
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) have received a mandate to develop a Declaration on Nutrition and
an accompanying Framework for Action (FFA) to guide its implementation. They will
organise several preparatory meetings and conferences during the development process.
The WMA is observing this process. One main criticism is the short timeline and the low
involvement of civil society in the process. NGOs also complain that problems concerning
the use of antibiotics in foodstuffs are not well addressed in the current discussion.
The focus so far is on: Social protection to protect and promote nutrition,
nutrition-enhancing agriculture and food systems and the contribution of the private sector
and civil society to improving nutrition.
3.7 Health and the environment
3.7.1 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. For this purpose, a WMA delegation followed the two weeks of
negotiations during the COP 23, which took place from 6-17 November 2017 in
Bonn, Germany. The Secretariat liaised with WHO and the Global Climate and
Health Alliance (GCHA) to ensure coordinated actions during these negotiations.
The WMA made a public statement
(https://www.wma.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/3.5-Health-environment-and-
climate-change-WMA.pdf) at the 142nd
session of the WHO Executive Board on
the global strategy on health, environment and climate change.
During the reporting period, discussions were started with WHO and the GCHA on
setting up a regular mechanism of cooperation in the area of climate change.
The WHO’s First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health is scheduled from
30th
October to 1st
November in Geneva. It will bring together global, national and
local partners to share knowledge and mobilize action for cleaner air and better
health. The WMA is in contact with WHO to discuss its involvement in the event.
3.7.2 Chemicals safety
In December 2009, the WMA joined the Strategic Approach to International
Chemicals Management (SAICM) of the Chemicals Branch of the United Nations
April 2018 SecGen Report/Apr2018
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Environment Programme (UNEP), which aims to develop a strategy for
strengthening the engagement of the health sector in the implementation of
the Strategic Approach.
Further to the 2016 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, the 70th
World Health Assembly last May
approved the Chemicals Roadmap (http://www.who.int/ipcs/saicm/roadmap/en/)
which identifies actions where the health sector has either a lead or important
supporting role to play, recognizing the need for multi-sectoral and
multi-stakeholder cooperation. The roadmap was developed in consultation with
Member States, United Nations agencies, and other relevant stakeholders. The
WMA participated in the consultation phase through electronic consultation and
meetings.
3.7.3 WMA Green Page
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, PowerPoints, 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.
4. Health Systems
4.1 Patient safety
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.
Under this overarching topic the WMA was invited by the WHO to participate in a Global
Consultation for Setting Priorities for Global Patient Safety in collaboration with the
Centre for Clinical Risk Management and Patient Safety, Department of Health. This
high-level global event brought together key international experts and senior policy makers
from ministries of health from both developed and developing countries. The objective of
this consultation was to identify the main challenges and barriers to improving patient
safety for patients, health-care providers and the environment of care, and define priorities
for future action by the WHO and countries.
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Some years ago, the WMA, together 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’ should be updated in such a way that it can also stand alone as a single
document. At a first meeting in December 2017 we discussed the topics, order and
priorities of this chapter. Based on this discussion the WHO will develop a first revised
version to be commented on by the WMA and other health professionals.
4.2 One Health
In May 2015, the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and the World Medical
Association (WMA) in collaboration with the Spanish medical (SMA) and veterinary
(SVA) associations organized the Global Conference on ‘One Health’ Concept with the
theme: “Drivers towards One Health – Strengthening collaboration between Physicians and
Veterinarians”. The Global Conference brought together 330 delegates from 40 countries
around the world. Veterinarians, physicians, students, public health officials and NGO
representatives listened to presentations by high-level speakers and had the opportunity to
learn, discuss and address critical aspects of the One Health concept. The main objectives
of the conference were to strengthen links and communications between the professions
and to achieve closer collaboration between physicians, veterinarians and all relevant
stakeholders to improve different aspects of the health and welfare of humans, animals and
the environment. A summary of the conference is available on the WMA website.
The second conference was hosted by the Japan Medical Association and the Japan
Veterinary Association together with the World Veterinary and the World Medical
Association in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan on 10-11 November 2016. The
conference was attended by more than 600 participants from 44 countries around the world
with approximately 30 lectures covering different One Health issues. A summary of the
conference is available on the WMA website.
4.3 Antimicrobial resistance
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 WHO developed the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, which
articulated five main objectives, with the healthcare workforce being a key player in their
attainment. Most notably, Objective 1 strives to “improve awareness and understanding of
antimicrobial resistance through effective communication, education and training.’’ The
WHO established an AMR secretariat whose purpose is to link the various stakeholders,
get them involved and coordinate the activities of the Action Plan. One emphasis will be on
the education of medical students and physicians.
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
April 2018 SecGen Report/Apr2018
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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.
Together with the School for Public Policy at the George Mason University, the WMA has
been providing a free online learning tool on Antimicrobial Resistance for nearly a decade
now.
The WMA participated in the ninth Meeting of the Strategic and Technical Advisory
Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (STAG – AMR) and the Meeting of the Technical
Coordination Group (TCG) in February 2018 in Geneva.
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.
Following the conclusion of its 10 year mandate, the Global Health Workforce Alliance
has transitioned into the Global Health Workforce Network (GHWN). The Global Health
Workforce Network aims to facilitate evidence generation and exchange, foster
intersectoral and multilateral policy dialogue, including providing a forum for multi-sector
and multi-stakeholder agenda setting, sharing of best practices, and harmonization and
alignment of international support for human resources for health. The overall goal is to
enable the implementation of Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development
Goals. The WHO, together with the GHWN and Ireland, organised the Fourth Global
Forum on Human Resources for Health in November 2017 and adopted the outcome
document Dublin Declaration on Human Resources for Health.
During this forum the WMA and the International Federation of Pharmacists (FIP)
organised a side session on: How can regulation ensure quality health care,
professional autonomy and protect the public’s interest?
Commercialised health care models may affect professional autonomy and the delivered
quality of care. The purpose of health care regulation is to protect the public’s interest and
ensure patient-centred quality care based on ethical principles, as opposed to
profit-oriented models of care. Professional autonomy through self-regulation defines
standards and ensures quality for health care models. Therefore, regulation has an
important role in the implementation of strategies such as the WHO Global Strategy on
Human Resources for Health to accelerate UHC and ensure a sustainable health workforce.
April 2018 SecGen Report/Apr2018
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Dr Julia Tainijoki, WMA Medical Advisor, spoke at another side event during this forum
entitled: “Addressing discrimination in health care settings through a focus on the
rights, roles and responsibilities of health workers” and presented the physician’s
perspective and WMA policies on this issue.
4.5 Violence in the health sector
Building on the success of the previous conference in Dublin, preparatory work has started
for the sixth International Conference on violence in the health sector, which will take
place in Toronto, Canada on 24 – 26 October 2018. The WMA is a member of the
organisation and scientific committees in charge of the preparations for the event. Two
meetings of the organisation committee took place during the reporting period. C.
Delorme, as member of the Committee, liaised with the ICRC so that a representative of
the Health Care in Danger initiative will be invited to the conference as a keynote speaker.
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, is supported by the WMA Cooperating Center, the Center for Global Health and
Medical Diplomacy at the University of North Florida.
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
5.2 Support for national constituent members
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See item 2.2.1
April 2018 SecGen Report/Apr2018
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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 follows2
:
1. World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO Governance
WHO Executive Board, January 2018:
The 142nd session of the WHO Executive Board took place in January 2018 in 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/e/e_eb142.html
WHO Public Health Events
Fourth Global Forum on Human Resources for Health in November 2017 organised by WHO,
GHWN and Ireland in November 2017
WHO Meeting of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (STAG –
AMR) and Meeting of the Technical Coordination Group (TCG) in February 2018 in Geneva
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
WHO workshop «investing in healthy cities: «insuring prevention» at the 20th
European Health Forum
Gastein, Austria in October 2017
WHO GCM/NCD Working Group on Health Education and Health Literacy for NCDs, in February
in Geneva
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. In October 2015, the conference convened in Naples, Italy. The WMA
participated again by structuring sessions on end-of-life issues and the (at that time) draft of a
new policy on Ethical Guidelines for Health Databases and Biobanks. WMA Past-Presidents, Dr
Yoram Blachar and Dr Jon Snædal, WMA Ethics Advisor Prof. Vivienne Nathanson, WMA
Legal Counsel, Ms Annabel Seebohm and the Secretary General served in preparing these
sessions. Immediate Past President, Dr Xavier Deau, held a keynote speech at the opening of the
conference.
The WMA was again invited to arrange two scientific sessions at the 12th UNESCO Chair of
Bioethics Conference held in Limassol, Cyprus from 21-23 March 2017. The first discussed the
2
More information on the activities mentioned is set out under the relevant section of the report.
April 2018 SecGen Report/Apr2018
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ongoing revision process of the «Declaration of Geneva, the physicians’ oath». This session was
moderated by Dr Ramin Parsa-Parsi, Chair of the WMA work group, and Prof. Urban Wiesing,
Director at our cooperating institute, the University of Tübingen. The second session was
moderated by WMA Past President Dr Jon Snædal and Dr Otmar Kloiber, with contributions by
Dr Emmanuell Rial-Sibag from our cooperating Center at the University of Neuchatel and Ms
Annabel Seebohm, Secretary General of the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME).
The WMA is invited to the 13th
World Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law,
which will take place from 27-29 November 2018 in Jerusalem, Israel. Please visit the
conference page for more details.
3. Other UN agencies
AGENCY ACTIVITIES
Human Rights Council of the United
Nations, in particular:
UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on the right of
everyone to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental
health (Dr D. Puras)
Monitoring the SRs’ activities
Ongoing exchange of information
Meeting with the SR in September 2017 further
to WMA written contribution to SR’s report on
mental health
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 the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (Ms Catalina Devandas
Aguilar)
Monitoring the SR’s activities
Contact made late 2016
High Commissioner for Human Rights (Mr
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein)
The WMA is part of the consultation process
within the framework of the UN Resolution on
mental health and human rights adopted in
September 2016
UNAIDS Campaign on Zero HIV-related stigma &
discrimination in health care settings day
See item 3.3.3
OECD Meeting with Mrs Francesca Colombo, Head of
the Health Section, and her team. Discussion
about the new work strategy on health system
reporting and the use of Patient Reported
Outcome Measurements (PROMS). November
2016 (see also item 6.1 and 10)
International Organisation for Migration
(IOM)
The WMA is part of the IOMWHO working
Group on Migrants’ Health. (see point 3.3)
WHO and World Bank Dr Yokokura gave one of the keynote speeches
at the Universal Health Coverage Forum
December 2017 in Tokyo, Japan
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4. World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)
After over ten years, the World Federation of Dentists FDI took over the secretariat of the World
Health Professions Alliance Leadership from the WMA at the beginning of 2018.
World Health Professions Regulation Conference
Save the date: 19-20 May 2018 in Geneva, prior to the World Health Assembly
Health professional regulation faces many challenges in a world characterised by political,
social, economic and technological change. Widespread reform of health professional regulation
reflects policy initiatives by many governments to ensure sustainable, efficient and effective
health service delivery. But what are the implications of these challenges, and how do we ensure
the public’s best interests are met?
Scheduled to run over one-and-a-half days immediately before the World Health Assembly in
May 2018, the 6th World Health Professions Regulation Conference (WHPRC) will provide
participants with insights, perspectives and discussion on current challenges in health
professional regulation.
There are three main themes that will be addressed during the conference:
1. A call to set the right standards in regulation
Topics will include: setting the right standards, who is regulating the regulators, ethics and
professional autonomy, barriers to implementation, and reimbursement.
2. Safety, quality and compliance: Benefiting patients, communities and populations
Topics will include: best practice guidelines, the role of regulation in sustainable prevention,
facilitation of migration, the cost of maintaining licenses, use of big data and case studies of
outcome-oriented models.
3. Supporting the quality of lifelong learning
Topics will include: continuing professional development (CPD) and a discussion on the need for
global standards, fostering innovation, improving patient treatment, the shift in CPD of
assessment vs independence, and regulation of specialization.
5. WMA Cooperating Centers
The WMA is now 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.
Center for Global Health and Medical
Diplomacy, University of North Florida,
USA
Leadership development, medical diplomacy
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
April 2018 SecGen Report/Apr2018
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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. This educational
platform will be launched in May 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, Ethiopia 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.
International Federation of
Health and Human Rights
Organisations (IFHHRO)
Regular exchange of information on human rights and health
matters.
International Federation of
Medical Students
Associations (IFMSA)
Internship program since 2013 (3 students in 2013 and 2
students in 2014).
Regular collaboration, mostly in relation to WHO statutory
meetings.
Participation of WMA officers and officials in the pre-World
Health Assembly conference of IFMSA in Geneva.
International Federation of Cooperation on issues of human experimentation and
April 2018 SecGen Report/Apr2018
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Associations of
Pharmaceutical Physicians
(IFAPP)
pharmaceutical development, the role of physicians in that
process. A memorandum of understanding has been 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.
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
Regular exchange of information and joint actions on specific
cases or situations.
International Physicians for
the Prevention of Nuclear
War (IPPN)
Exchange of information and joint actions, in particular in the
context of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear
Weapons.
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CHAPTER III COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH
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.
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.
4. WMA African Initiative
WMA President 2013-2014, Dr Margaret Mungherera, started an initiative to bring African
medical associations closer to the WMA. The idea was that stronger inclusion of organised
medicine in international cooperation should not only help to get the African voice better heard,
but would also leverage national visibility and standing.
Dr Mungherera brought together medical associations from various parts of Africa in small
regional meetings to discuss issues around their current work, what obstacles they face and where
they have had success. Invitations are open to all African medical associations, regardless of
whether they are already members of the WMA.
Dr Mungherera set up regional consultative meetings with African NMAs in Kenya, South
Africa, Tunisia and Nigeria. This initiative has been supported by the medical associations of
South Africa and Tunisia, WMA President 2014-2015, Dr Xavier Deau, Past Chair of Council,
Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, as well as the Chairman of the Past-Presidents and Chairs of Council
Network, Dr Dana Hanson.
Immediate Past-President Dr Mungherera delivered presentations at the 4th
International
Conference on Violence in the Health Sector in Miami from 22-24 October 2014, the African
Health Conference in London from 27-28 February 2015, and at the 6th
World Congress on
Women’s Mental Health in Tokyo from 22-25 March 2015, among others.
Sadly, Dr Mungherera passed away on 4 February 2017 after a brave battle with cancer over
recent years. As a psychiatrist by education, a public health activist by nature, and a determined
April 2018 SecGen Report/Apr2018
26
advocate for the people of Africa by conviction she was a marvellous physician leader on the
global stage. For many of us she was more than a colleague, she became a friend, teacher and
companion.
Margaret was with us for every meeting she could arrange for. The WMA remains grateful for
her service to our community.
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.
6. Secondments / internships
The Danish Medical Association seconded Ms Eva Rahbek to the WMA Secretariat at the
Council Session in Riga. We have been running an internship programme with the IFMSA since
2013 (3 Interns in 2017 from Poland, Spain and Rwanda), with the University of Pennsylvania
since 2014 (2 Interns in 2017) and last year we started an internship programme with the Palack
University Olomouc in the Czech Republic (1 intern in 2017).
A call was sent out to IFMSA members in February for two interns for the 2018 spring/summer
period and 2 UPENN interns have been accepted for the period from May to August 2018.
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).
April 2018 SecGen Report/Apr2018
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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. Based on this
report, the Secretary General drafted a discussion document for a new Strategic Plan to be
considered at the Council Session in Riga.
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.
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09.04.2018