GA-2013-Valedictory-address-Wilson-Oct2013

Valedictory Address – 1
Cecil B. Wilson, MD, MACP
President, World Medical Association
Valedictory Address
General Assembly, Fortaleza 2013
October 18, 2013
Fortaleza, Brazil
Members of the World Medical General Assembly, colleagues, guests and our hosts the
Brazilian Medical Association:
Since my inauguration last year in Bangkok, it has been my privilege to represent the
World Medical Association (WMA) around the world.
I’ve traveled to at a total of five continents, twelve countries and attended twenty-
nine meetings and conferences.
I’ve also reported on my travels and the varied and important activities of this
organization on the WMA website through the President’s Blog.
The message I have carried may be summed up as follows:
1. The moral imperative of ethics in medicine
2. The challenge of noncommunicable disease and the social determinants of
health
3. The threat of climate change
First, the moral imperative of ethics in medicine
As you all are aware, the WMA has been very involved in the process of bringing the
Declaration of Helsinki (DOH) up to date in anticipation of its fiftieth anniversary in
2014.
The Expert Conferences convened in Cape Town, South Africa, Tokyo, Japan and
Washington, DC, brought together experts in ethics, members of the medical
profession, educators and governmental officials to provide input.
The conferences are part of the multi-year effort by the World Medical Association to
examine the DOH to determine if changes are needed.
In examining the DOH for potential changes the WMA has focused on transparency and
on obtaining a diversity of opinions from experts around the world.
At this meeting, we see the culmination of many hours’ work by the workgroup, and
especially the facilitating group, who had the unenviable task of taking mountains of
comments and distilling them into a new more understandable document.
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In addition, the transparency of the process that encouraged involvement by experts
in the field and the public is an affirmation that the end product will preserve the
DOH as the gold standard for ethical principles in research involving human subjects.
Second, the challenge of noncommunicable disease and the social determinants of
health
The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow,
live, work and age; and the societal influences on these conditions.
They are major influences on both quality of life, including good health, and length of
disability-free life expectancy.
The primary responsibility for addressing the social determinants of health is that of
government and society.
In March I attended the Institute of Health Equity (IHE) which makes
recommendations for actions and provides analysis in core areas of work for
physicians:
1. Workforce education and training as well as individuals and communities
2. Government organizations and working in partnership and as advocates
3. Challenges and opportunities in the health system.
The WMA believes in the importance of health care system strengthening, universal
access and emphasizing social determinants of health as the right approach in fighting
NCDS.
At all WHO events on this topic, the WMA will advocate for a holistic approach that
puts social determinants of health at the forefront of thinking about health care.
Third, the threat of climate change
Climate change due to global warming is reality of life on our planet today.
It has health effects that are significant and already being felt.
For example extreme heat events are more frequent, of longer duration and more
severe, causing increased deaths in the tens of thousands yearly.
Early research suggests that mitigation of the effects of climate change may have a
link with prevention and might have significant health benefits for both individuals
and populations.
In climate change vernacular, mitigation and adaption are the buzzwords.
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The WMA is committed to being involved in the mitigation of climate change – that is
attempting to slow or reverse climate change by decreasing greenhouse gas
production through implementation of green policies.
Including for example extremes of weather such as heat events and torrential
downpours and flooding;
Changes in insect disease vector populations, and adverse effects on food sources
brought on by droughts.
As another part of ongoing efforts to support responses to climate change, the WMA
established an environmental caucus which meets regularly in conjunction with WMA
meetings.
Last fall the caucus surveyed WMA members to assess implementation of WMA’s green
policies within its membership.
The goal was to evaluate medical associations’ involvement in those areas and get
useful guidance for potential additional activities.
Based on the results of the environmental caucus survey, WMA members report they
are engaged in dealing with climate change and have a variety of suggestions about
how further progress can be accomplished.
In conclusion, as I stated in my inaugural address,
I still believe that in spite of the constancy of change and the unexpected events of
our lives,
We as physicians can open new doors, share new insights, find new cures, prevent
disease
We can help our patients the world over to live healthier, happier, longer more
productive lives.
I thank you for the great honor of contributing to these ideals as WMA President over
the past year, and I look forward to more opportunities to create a brighter future of
medicine.
Cecil B. Wilson, MD