WMA Annual Report
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ANNUAL REPORT
2020
WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
W M A D e c l a r a t i o n o n E u t h a n a s i a a n d
P h y s i c i a n – A s s i s t e d S u i c i d e
W M A R e s o l u t i o n o n t h e R e v o c a t i o n
o f W H O G u i d e l i n e s o n O p i o i d U s e
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n H e a l t h c a r e
I n f o r m a t i o n f o r A l l
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n F r e e S u g a r
C o n s u m p t i o n a n d S u g a r – s w e e t e n e d
B e v e r a g e s
W M A R e s o l u t i o n o n C l i m a t e
E m e r g e n c y C l i m a t e , C l i m a t e
C h a n g e
A d o p t e d :
Policies adopted at the General Assembly 2019 – Tbilisi
P O L I C I E S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
W M A R e s o l u t i o n o n L e g i s l a t i o n a g a i n s t A b o r t i o n i n N i c a r a g u a
W M A D e c l a r a t i o n o f R e y k j a v i k – E t h i c a l C o n s i d e r a t i o n s R e g a r d i n g
t h e U s e o f G e n e t i c s i n H e a l t h C a r e
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n P a t e n t i n g M e d i c a l P r o c e d u r e s
W M A D e c l a r a t i o n o n G u i d e l i n e s f o r C o n t i n u o u s Q u a l i t y I m p r o v e m e n t
i n H e a l t h c a r e
W M A D e c l a r a t i o n o f M a d r i d o n P r o f e s s i o n a l l y – l e d R e g u l a t i o n
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n A n t i m i c r o b i a l R e s i s t a n c e
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n R e d u c i n g D i e t a r y S o d i u m I n t a k e
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n A c c e s s o f W o m e n a n d C h i l d r e n t o H e a l t h C a r e
W M A D e c l a r a t i o n o n t h e R e l a t i o n o f L a w a n d E t h i c s
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n V i o l e n c e a n d H e a l t h
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n S e x S e l e c t i o n A b o r t i o n a n d F e m a l e F o e t i c i d e
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n A u g m e n t e d I n t e l l i g e n c e i n M e d i c a l C a r e
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n M e d i c a l A g e A s s e s s m e n t o f U n a c c o m p a n i e d
M i n o r A s y l u m S e e k e r s
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n S o l i t a r y
C o n f i n e m e n t
W M A S t a t e m e n t o n t h e
P r i o r i t i s a t i o n o f I m m u n i s a t i o n
W M A R e s o l u t i o n o n T a s k
S h i f t i n g f r o m t h e M e d i c a l
P r o f e s s i o n
R e v i s e d / R e a f f i r m e d
P A G E 0 2 |
MESSAGE FROM THE WMA PRESIDENT
D R . M I G U E L R O B E R T O J O R G E
WMA President
P A G E 0 3 |
The year 2019 was a year that will stand out
as a culmination point for the climate
change debate, a debate the WMA has not
only been involved in for more than a
decade, we are also proud to have brought
the health aspects of climate change to the
political debate at the UN Climate
Conference, first at the COP 15 in
Copenhagen ten years ago.
The short notice change of this year’s
conference venue from Santiago de Chile to
Madrid due to the social unrest in Chile
points to the fact that some of the social
fabric in our societies is not what it should
be.
In our work on the Social Determinants of
Health we deal with these questions, but we
also prepare for the changes that are coming
to our profession through increasing
digitization. Organized by my immediate
predecessor Dr Leonid Eidelman, the WMA
and the Israeli Medical Association held a
Symposium on the future of medicine. Big
data, artificial intelligence, mobile health and
new types of economics based on Internet
platforms rather than on traditional businesses
are already changing the face of medicine. But
while medical technology and practice
continue to develop, the protagonists of these
developments still encourage us to bear in
mind the human factor in medicine.
The patient-physician relationship is more
than, if not completely different from, a
consumer or client-provider relationship, at
least this is the case if we are serious about our
professional ethics. Although the patient-
physician relationship has evolved
considerably over time, from physicians taking
decisions alone to shared decision-making
processes, the asymmetry in this relationship
remains. A thorough and high-quality
education forms a physician, and we have to
put more emphasis on the human interaction
in the practice of medicine than we did in the
past.
The eight to twelve years of education a
person usually needs to become a
competent and specialized physician, and I
include family physicians as such, also make
physicians the most competent leaders in a
primary care team. While there is no doubt
that all medical care nowadays is team care,
we strongly advocate for a world in which
all patients who need to be seen by a
physician will be seen by a physician. This
demand may still be aspirational in many
parts of the world, but it is appropriate, and
we don’t want physicians to be replaced by
other health professionals who don’t have
this high level of qualification.
Only such health care, and especially
primary care that is based on the best
evidence, of high quality and is delivered on
time, can fulfil the requirements of Universal
Health Coverage (UHC).We believe the
standard for this must be science based,
practiced with compassion and it cannot be
replaced by “alternative medicine” or “local
standards”. At a conference on UHC,
organised jointly with the Japan Medical
Association and with the support of the
Japanese Government, we underlined our
support for bringing UHC to all countries of
the world. Wise health policy and strong
investment in human resources for health
will be necessary to bring real health care to
many more people. We are convinced this
can be done and we stay committed to this
goal.
President’s Report
Dr. Leonid Eidelman presented his
written and oral report about his work as
President during 2018/19.
He said he had stated at the start of his
Presidency that he would like to devote
his tenure to evaluating future challenges
faced by physicians throughout the
world, as well as promoting preparedness.
This he had done at the many meetings
he had spoken at and attended. Among
them was the ‘Physician 2030’ meeting in
Herzliya, Israel in May, which addressed
healthcare models and the medical
workplace in 2030. He had also attended
many national medical association
meetings.
P A G E 0 4 |
General Assembly 2019 – Tbilisi
Chair’s Report
Dr. Montgomery, in his written report, said
that since his election in Santiago in April
many big health issues had ‘stormed over’
them – Universal Health Coverage, Ebola
returning to Africa, and the measles
returning in many countries, either due to
people having no access to vaccines, or to
the shameful fact that a growing vaccine
hesitancy in richer societies had led to a
loss of immunity. There was also climate
change, with heatwaves in Europe,
typhoons and hurricanes in tropical and
subtropical regions, and the dangerous
melting of polar ice on both sides of the
planet This was casting long shadows
over the future of their children’s
generation.
At the invitation of the Georgian Medical Association, delegates from more than 50
National Medical Associations and constituent member associations met at the
Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace.
WMA General assembly, Tbilisi, Georgia – Photo: Peteris Apinis
E V E N T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
P A G E 0 5 |
The World Medical Association has committed itself to support the World Health
Organization in its endeavour to roll out Universal Health Coverage. We support the idea
of bringing real, quality health care to all the people of the world and demand that
governments provide the necessary structures and means to build systems of Universal
Health Coverage.
Those countries which are successful demonstrate that this is not so much a question of
either a state run or private health care system, but rather the commitment to equality.
The 2018 Astana conference underlined the need for good Primary Health Care structures
to be at the core of any good and comprehensive health care system. But the need for
more health professionals and the creation of attractive and retaining work and living
environments was also evident.
Campaigning for Universal Health Coverage
The Japan Medical Association kicked off the
campaign in 2019 with its Health Policy
Symposium, at which the WMA contributed with
a presentation underlining the role of Physicians
in Primary Care.
In a side-event to the 2019 World Health
Assembly organized by the Taiwan Medical
Association we again underlined the
development of Primary Health Care Structures
as cornerstones for UHC and stressed the leading
role of the family physician in multi-professional
teams. Prior to the governmental G20 Summit in
Japan, the WMA co-organized another
international H(ealth)20 Meeting with the Japan
Medical Association with the support of the
Japanese Government in Tokyo. Japan is one of
the countries which has probably come closest
to the ideal of Universal Health Coverage. Japan
has demonstrated the striking effect of its social
health insurance on the health and life-
expectancy of its people. Japan very much
supports the idea of Universal Health Coverage
as a means to improve health and to stabilize
societies and develop economies.
The H20 conference ended with a call
upon the leaders of the G20 group to put
more effort into health and the
development of UHC, which was not only
echoed by the group, but was also
reflected in a UN-Declaration on UHC later
adopted by a UN Summit held alongside
the UN General Assembly in September
2019.
Alongside the High Level meeting on UHC
in New York on 22 September, the WMA
together with the Japan Medical
Association and other partners organised
the side event on ‘UHC and
Communicable Diseases: Tradition and
Innovation’. The event highlighted how
digitalization and innovations can
enhance the acceleration of universal
health coverage.
At an International Symposium on
Primary Health Care organized in
December 2019 in Taipei by the Taiwan
Medical Association, leaders from the TMA
E V E N T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
Health Professionals Meeting (H20) 2019
“Road to Universal Health Coverage”
and WMA discussed new
models of Prmary Health Care
structures to build primary
health care communities,
advance health care planning
and the role of the physicians in
PHC with a focus on the
Patient/Physician-Relationship.
With keynote speakers from science,
developers from Silicon Valley and
physicians who use and teach about new
technologies, the conference provided a
better understanding of changes already
underway and those to come. And while
there will be many changes to methods
in medicine, human to human
interaction is worth being retained and
developed.
The WMA has been developing policy on
IT since 1973 and we are still preparing
for the future. Our latest Statement on
Mobile Health and on Ethical
Considerations regarding Health
Databases and Biobanks are good
examples of work that continues.
P A G E 0 6 |
Physician 2030
UHC2030’s Global Compact is an international
health partnership to “accelerate progress
towards UHC” jointly organized by currently 83
countries, the European Union, international
and multilateral government bodies and
organizations, philanthropists and Civil Society
organizations. The WMA joined in May 2019 at a
signing ceremony with WMA President Leonid
Eidelman.
https://www.uhc2030.org/our-mission/global-
compact/
Joining Global Compact UHC 2030 in May 2019
During the 7 decades of its existence, the future of
medicine has always been an important topic of
discussion for the WMA. Many of the changes and
inventions that have shaped medical practice
have come from inside the profession, but with
the rapid commoditization and digitization of
medicine we are faced with enormous outside
pressure.
While many predict a complete change or even
abolition of certain specialties, discussions with
frontline innovators and IT developers reveal a
much more differentiated and positive picture.
Initiated by WMA President Leonid Eidelman, and
jointly organized with the Israeli Medical
Association, the WMA held the Physician 2030
conference in Israel in June 2019.
https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-
statement-on-mobile-health/
https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-
declaration-of-taipei-on-ethical-
considerations-regarding-health-databases-
and-biobanks/
The WMA was also elected as a board
member of the Civil Society Engagement
Mechanism (CSEM), which is the civil
society constituent of the International
Health Partnership for UHC2030. The
CSEM raises civil society voices in UHC2030
to ensure that Universal Health Coverage
policies are inclusive and equitable, and
that systematic attention is given to the
most marginalized and vulnerable
populations so that no one is left behind.
E V E N T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
From 9 to 12 December 2019 the World Health Organization held a four-day Global
Meeting to accelerate progress on SDG target 3.4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development (to reduce premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by
one third through prevention and treatment and the promotion of mental health and
well-being). The Meeting was hosted by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman in
Muscat, Oman. The goal of the Global Meeting was to scale up the implementation of
national responses to address NCDs, their risk factors (including air pollution), and mental
health conditions with a view to reducing premature mortality and put countries on a
sustainable path in order to achieve SDG target 3.4 by 2030. Opportunities for synergies
to end all forms of malnutrition (SDG target 2.2), reduce the number of deaths and
injuries from road traffic accidents (SDG targets 3.6 and 11.2), and end all forms of violence
against children (SDG target 16.2) were also explored.
WMA president Dr Miguel Roberto Jorge was
invited to speak at the High-level Segment at
the level of ministers and heads of
organizations. He highlighted that the health
sector is one of the most essential sectors for
tackling NCDs. This won’t be possible without
strengthening the health workforce and
closing the gap on the estimated 18 million
missing health professionals. Health
professionals need to be trained in health
promotion, prevention and treatment of NCDs.
The health system needs to allow them to
have sufficient time with their patients, and
regulation systems should not only reimburse
health professionals for providing treatment,
but also for prevention and health promotion.
In a second speech, Dr Miguel Roberto Jorge
expressed the importance of collaborative
governance on NCDs – only by multisectoral
and multistakeholder action we can
accelerate regional and country-level
responses.
A second WMA speaker, Dr Julia Tainijoki-
Seyer, was invited to explore how to overcome
national implementation challenges. One
focus of her presentation was in health care
system strengthening and the important role
of health professionals, their education and
working conditions.
Furthermore, during the official launch of the
BMJ journal – Solutions for non-
communicable disease prevention and
control – she presented her article on how
medical education must change in order to
prepare physicians for health promotion,
prevention and treatment. Taking a holistic
approach, putting the patient at the centre of
care and including the social determinants of
health.
P A G E 0 7 |
WHO Global Meeting to Accelerate Progress on SDG Target 3.4 on NCDs
and Mental Health 9-12 December Muscat, Oman
WHO- involvement of Non State Actors in
official relationship with WHO in governing
bodies meetings of WHO – 16.12.2019
CSEM UHC 2030 advisory board meeting
8+9.12.2019
9th Global Forum on health promotion at WHO
‘health promotion – a critical pathway to
achieving UHC’ – 12.11.2019
WHO meeting: Planning for the very first World
Patient Safety Day 17 September 2019 –
17/18.6.2019
WHO Expert consultations attended by WMA
E V E N T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
WMA President Dr. Miguel Jorge – part of the panel
P A G E 0 8 |
The Annual Conference of the European
Forum of Good Clinical Practice (EFGCP) in
Brussels in February 2019 began with the
topic of “Making Clinical Research an Element
of Better Healthcare”. It dealt in depth with
the limitations of clinical trial designs,
integration with care and, especially, patient-
involvement in clinical research – from
involving patients in the design and planning
of clinical studies, to patient driven research.
While stronger patient involvement was
generally seen as a positive element to better
focus and integrate research into clinical
practice, it also highlighted the effects of
extreme patient group pressure on
researchers and study designs.
UNAIDS and the World Health Organization
invited the WMA to a joint a meeting on
“Ethical frameworks and biomedical HIV
prevention research in the era of highly
effective HIV prevention“. This November event
was basically designed as a hearing for the
revision of the “Ethical considerations in
biomedical HIV prevention trials”, a guidance
document on prevention trials that UNAIDS
and WHO last revised in 2012.
The discussions revealed completely new
complexities in the design of clinical trials on
prevention methods, which require new
approaches to the structuring of test groups,
control-group design and research subject
selection. It also demonstrated, among other
points, that either our current concept of
dealing with “vulnerable” groups does not fit
the needs of prevention trials, or that a more
refined definition of vulnerability is necessary.
An invitation to speak at the 40th Annual
Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Society of
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
(JSCPT) on the development of the
Declaration of Helsinki allowed us to discuss
new trends in international clinical research.
Diversified strategies in clinical research such
as branched trial groups, adaptive trial design,
cluster trials and the use of “real world data” as
controls demand our attention for the
development of ethical standards. Although
the Declaration of Helsinki is currently
unchallenged, the changes in the research
environment require our attention and
consideration.
Under the new Strategic Plan 2020-2025 the Secretary General is asked to monitor
developments in clinical/medical research and to report back to the Council on the
ramifications for the Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical Principles for Medical Research
Involving Human Subjects as the global core policy on research ethics. The Secretary
General had opportunities to participate in various conferences that are directly related
to research ethics:
Clinical research is rapidly changing – What does this mean for research ethics?
E V E N T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
WMA Secretary General Dr. Otmar Kloiber, speaker at the conference
CIOMS celebrates 70 years
P A G E 0 9 |
On the occasion of a visit to Montenegro in preparation
for the upcoming European Forum of Medical
Associations, the WMA Secretary General together with
the delegation of the Forum and the President of the
Medical Chamber of Montenegro, Dr Aleksandar Mugosa,
had an opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister of
Montenegro, Mr Duško Marković. Despite efforts to
increase investments in health care.
CIOMS – the Council for International Organizations of Medical
Sciences – brings together the research community in medicine.
The WMA is a member of CIOMS and closely cooperates with the
Geneva-based association, especially on matters of research ethics.
2019 marked the 70th Anniversary of CIOMS.
To mark this occasion, CIOMS President Dr Hervé LeLouet and
Secretary General Dr Lembti Rägo cut a birthday cake at the
CIOMS General Assembly. WMA Secretary General, Dr Otmar
Kloiber, was re-elected to the CIOMS Executive Board and Prof.
Dominique Sprumont from Switzerland was newly elected to the
CIOMS Board upon nomination of the WMA.
Delegation of the German Parliament visits the WMA office
Although visits of politicians are not unusual for the
WMA, a visit of a whole subcommittee is indeed a
novelty.
In February 2019, the Subcommittee on International
Health of the German Parliament visited the WMA as
part of a visit to the international institutions in Geneva.
This gave us an opportunity to introduce the WMA and
its work to the Parliament members and to speak about
our campaign for UHC and the role of physicians in
health care.
Visit to Montenegro
E V E N T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
Montenegro is one of the countries with a high attrition rate of physicians migrating to
countries of the European Union. With the high probability of joining the EU in the future,
Montenegro could experiencean even stronger emigration of physicians. Improving the
conditions for physicians working in Montenegro should therefore be a priority, argued the
Secretary General. This would also include more support for CME/CPD activities, including
providing the necessary means for continuing medical education and professional
development in the public health care system.
German Delegation and part of the WMA staff
CIOMS President Dr Hervé LeLouet and
Secretary General Dr Lembti Rägo
P A G E 1 0 |
The World Medical Association has a long
standing and close cooperation with some
regional medical associations, such as the
Confederación Médica Latinoamericana y del
Caribe – CONFEMEL, the Confederation of
Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania –
CMAAO, the Medical Associations of the
member states of the Association of South
East Asian Nations – MASEAN, and, since 2019,
with the newly founded (South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation) SAARC
Medical Association. The Standing Committee
of European Doctors – CPME has a special
relationship with the WMA as it was formed in
1959 out of the then European Committee of
the WMA.
The Standing Committee of European Doctors celebrates 60 years
With the foundation of CPME, the European
Committee ceased to exist. Among the
regional associations CPME also plays a
special role as a large amount of legislation in
the EU has been handed over from national
institutions to the European Commission, the
European Council and the European
Parliament. In Brussels, CPME serves as a
lobbying organization for physicians and
health care to the EU Institutions.
On the occasion of its General Assembly in
Helsinki in November 2019 we were the first
to congratulate CPME on a very successful 60
years!
http://www.confemel.com
http://cmaao.org/
https://masean.net
https://www.cpme.eu
E V E N T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
The Standing Committee of European Doctors at its fall meeting in Helsinki
November 2019
Violence in Health Care
On invitation of the Indian Medical Association an international group of health
leaders met to discuss the increasing violence in health care, which has reached
dramatic forms and frequencies in some countries. India seems to be one of the
countries that has been hit very hard, but the phenomenon is growing globally.
Health professionals and other health personnel increasingly find themselves confronted
by verbally and physically aggressive patients, relatives or just by-standers. Each year,
several physicians are killed on duty and many more are injured or intimidated. The
reasons are manifold and range from long waiting times to medical errors, from
disappointment about treatment results to just a desire to be aggressive.
The conference summarized its findings in the Memorandum of Mumbai. It concludes that
“Violence against medical profession and health care workers as well as facilities will be
counterproductive and demoralizing those who serve patients. This undermines the
confidence and courage of medical profession especially in critical situations, adversely
impacting patient care and safety.” Among other items, the conference suggested: “There
need to be efficient mechanisms to manage situations through strong government
support. There need to be strong policy initiatives, strong legislations and supportive
mechanisms.” However, not much has happened so far.
P A G E 1 1 |
Solidarity with our Turkish Colleagues
After Turkey entered into the war in Syria the Board of the Turkish Medical
Association issued a statement that war is detrimental to public health. This was
enough to have the whole board of the TMA imprisoned.
Defendants and Observers in front of the court room
Photo: Courtesy Turkish Medical Association (TTB)
E V E N T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
After they were released on bail,
the Secretary General and other
international representatives
observed a trial session against
the board members in Ankara
during the summer. They were
finally sentenced to multiyear
prison terms for allegedly
supporting terrorism. They are
currently fighting the verdicts in
the next instance. The WMA
continues its support for the
TMA, freedom of expression and
truthfulness in medicine.
The World Conferences on Medical
Education, the first three of which were
organized by the WMA in London in 1953,
in Chicago in 1959 and in New Delhi in
1966, provide a forum to discuss the
development of medical education, as well
as standards, accreditation and
recognition.
The most recent World Conference was
organized by the WFME, Korean Faculties
of Medicine, the Council on Medical
Education, the Korean Medical Academy
and the Korean Medical Association in
Seoul with more than 800 participants
from 57 countries. Under the topic of
“Quality Assurance in Medical Education in
the 21st Century” the conference discussed,
among other subjects, the further
development of standards, accreditation
and recognition of accreditation.
The conference demonstrated the will to
uphold a common global understanding
of what a physician is. An important signal
to all parties who wish to dilute the
professionalism in medicine in order to
make it a technical service.
Professor Jung-Yul PARK, now WMA Chair
of the Finance and Planning Committee,
chaired the Organizing Committee for the
Conference.
P A G E 1 2 |
Medical Education
In 1972 WHO and WMA jointly established the World Federation for Medical
Education. Its members are now the six regional associations of medical education
(mainly representing medical school faculties), the International Federation of
Medical Student Associations (IFMSA), the Educational Commission for Foreign
Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and the Junior Doctors Network of the WMA, together
with the founding partners.
The WFME has developed a trilogy of standards for basic medical education, postgraduate
medical education and Continuing Professional Development. Standards for basic medical
education, especially, have helped build systems of accreditation for medical education,
which countries can voluntarily have recognized by WFME.
Although the standards provide a clear framework for medical education, they are not
intended to standardise medical education. Rather they should ensure that education is
producing a competent and responsible physician. This is also an insurance for countries
investing in medical education, or vice-versa for students in places where they pay for their
education themselves.
In December 2019 the WHO, with support
from the Educational Commission for
Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFME),
organised an interprofessional conference
on medical education, which was held in
Istanbul, Turkey.
This represented a first attempt by WHO to
develop a common approach to the
regulation of health professionals. The
World Health Professions Alliance, which is
staging an interprofessional conference
series on Health Professions’ Regulation,
will continue its conference series on 16
May 2020, immediately before the opening
of the World Health Assembly.
https://www.whpa.org
https://www.whpa.org/news-
resources/news/20191219-whprc-2020-
planning-full-swing
Prof. Jung Yul Park, chair of the organizing committee
Photo: Courtesy World Federation for Medical Education
E V E N T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
Influenza
For the past seven years, the World Medical Association (WMA), with the support of
the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations
(IFPMA), has run an advocacy and communications campaign to promote the uptake
of influenza immunization. In 2019 the campaign’s focus was again on health
professionals.
Health professionals should be aware of the importance of communicating with patients
and encouraging them to get immunized and be better equipped to address immunization
hesitance among their patients. During the 6 weeks of the communication campaign from
October until early December we achieved increased visibility for the WMA, with 2 600 000
social media impressions (2 500 000 from Facebook and 149 000 from Twitter).
The campaign attracted 12 672 followers on Facebook and had peak growth at the start of
the campaign, followed by constant growth. Over this period, we gained 423 new fans.
P A G E 1 3 |
Social Media growth during the campaign
Some visuals of the Social Media campaign
C A M P A I G N S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
P A G E 1 4 |
Physicians at the forefront of Climate Change and Health
H U M A N R I G H T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
2019 has been touted as the year the world woke up to the reality of climate change.
The WMA has taken an active position on climate issues for a long time now, calling
for climate action among physicians and promoting sustainable healthcare systems.
Evidence has shown that climate change has
devastating effects on health. Threats such as
increased temperatures, fires, floods,
droughts and the loss of biodiversity
significantly affect human health. Air
pollution alone causes 7 million deaths per
year and is responsible for longer hospital
stays. Unfortunately, the health impact of
climate change is understated in political
discussions.
At the 69th WMA General Assembly held in
Tbilisi, Georgia, the WMA joined the global
community in declaring a climate
emergency, urging governments to act swiftly
to deliver carbon neutrality by 2030. WMA
President, Dr Miguel Jorge, stated that:
“Physicians have an important role in
advocating for the health of citizens around
the world, and we have a responsibility to
demand greater action on climate change.”
An international delegation of physicians
represented the WMA at the 25th Conference
of Parties (COP 25) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) in Madrid, Spain in December 2019.
They participated in health-related side
events and joined the Global Climate and
Health Alliance (GCHA), WHO and other
members of the health community at the
Global Climate and Health Summit.
The starting point of the discussion at the
Summit was to acknowledge that the
challenges of climate change and health are
intertwined and therefore have common
solutions. Whatever is beneficial for the
climate is beneficial for human health. It is for
this reason that the changing climate will
define the profile of public health over the
next several decades.
It also offers a great opportunity to the
health community, particularly physicians
as the most trusted professionals.
Health arguments have proven to be
effective in stimulating accelerated action.
There was also consensus among the
health community present at the Summit
that the response to climate change
largely depends on political will, rather
than technical or economic factors. There
is currently a wave of young people and
indigenous groups that have risen to the
occasion and are actively campaigning in
political spaces demanding climate action.
Their efforts must be backed by science.
Through them, complex data can be
broken down and communicated to
decision makers and the general public.
The WMA will therefore continue to
support studies that describe the patterns
of disease attributed to climate change
and define the most vulnerable
populations.
It was also agreed that a multilateral
approach is required to ensure that the
health of populations is at the centre of all
policies. Ministries of health must
collaborate with ministries of environment,
transport, agriculture, energy and finance
to build momentum on the political front.
The WMA will keep on urging national
governments and civil society to recognize
the serious health consequences of
climate change and to adopt strategies to
adapt and mitigate its effects. It is also the
physicians’ responsibility to advocate for
sustainable, environmentally responsible
and low-carbon practices across the health
sector to reduce the environmental impact
of health care facilities and practices.
P A G E 1 5 |
Physicians make the Case for Medical Ethics in World Athletics Competitions
In 2019, the WMA and the South African Medical Association were vocal against the
International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Regulations for the Female
Classification (Athletes with Differences of Sex Development), expressing strong
reservations as to its ethical validity. A week before an expected ruling by the Court of
Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on these regulations, the WMA called upon physicians not
to participate in the implementation of instructions that intend to classify women
athletes.
On 1 May, the CAS dismissed Caster Semenya’s
appeal, expressing serious reservations about
the regulations, but maintaining that they are
necessary to preserve the integrity of female
athletics. WMA’s statement received broad
media coverage and influenced the discourse
around this subject, eventually warranting an
open letter from the IAAF in response to the
WMA, explaining its position.
The WMA stood firmly behind the principles of
medical ethics and human rights,
emphasizing that the regulation perpetuates
flagrant discrimination based on the genetic
variation of female athletes. In response to the
IAAF, WMA President Dr Leonid Eidelman and
WMA Chair Dr Frank Ulrich Montgomery
explained: ‘A medical treatment .. is only
justified when there is a medical need. The
mere existence of an intersex condition,
without the person indicating suffering and
expressing the desire for an adequate
treatment, does not constitute a medical
indication.
‘The days when doctors or society would
determine which gender a person should have
are definitely over. It is the ethical duty of
physicians to respect the dignity and integrity
of people, regardless of whether they are
female, male, intersex or transgender. Medical
treatment for the sole purpose of altering the
performance in sport is not permissible’.
On July 29 the Swiss Court reversed its
ruling and temporarily reimposed the
hormonal restrictions on female athletes.
The summary examination concluded that:
“Neither the allegation of an infringement
of the principle of non-discrimination, nor
the alleged violation of public order due to
an infringement of personality and human
dignity appears with high probability to be
well founded”. This ruling poses a setback
for Caster Semenya and her counterparts.
The full consideration of this case will
probably be heard in a few months.
However, the federal judges will not rule on
the IAAF regulation itself, they will only give
their opinion on its compatibility with the
Swiss public order.
Despite the reversal of this decision,
physicians and human rights defenders
were successful in voicing their opposition
to the IAAF regulations. The WMA’s public
stand on this issue received widespread
attention in the media, reaching far beyond
the world of sport. Organizations, such as
Human Rights Watch, have sought the
support of the WMA to urge medical
associations in countries where athletes are
being discriminated against to condemn
testosterone testing by national governing
bodies for athletics and back physicians
refusing to act in violation of the
Hippocratic Oath.
H U M A N R I G H T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
H U M A N R I G H T S W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
WMA has issued an important number of press releases in support of its members and each
time a human rights violation from the health sector was brought to its attention. The press
releases are available on the WMA website and have been communicated on the WMA social
media channels and newsletter.
Public Relations
P A G E 1 6 |
0 9 . 0 4 . 2 0 2 0 I G l o b a l h e a l t h l e a d e r s u r g e G 2 0 t o a c t n o w o n p e r s o n a l p r o t e c t i v e
e q u i p m e n t
0 2 . 0 4 . 2 0 2 0 I G l o b a l p h y s i c i a n l e a d e r s c a l l f o r u r g e n t a c t i o n t o p r o t e c t h e a l t h
p r o f e s s i o n a l s a n d c a r e r s
1 6 . 0 3 . 2 0 2 0 I T u r k i s h P r e s i d e n t i s u r g e d t o r e l e a s e h u m a n r i g h t s p h y s i c i a n
1 0 . 0 3 . 2 0 2 0 I P h y s i c i a n l e a d e r s i s s u e p l e a t o T u r k e y a n d G r e e c e o n b o r d e r
d i s p u t e
0 4 . 0 3 . 2 0 2 0 I W o r l d h e a l t h p r o f e s s i o n a l s c a l l i n g g o v e r n m e n t s t o p r i o r i t i s e
s u p p o r t f o r h e a l t h c a r e w o r k e r s i n t h e f r o n t l i n e a g a i n s t c o r o n a v i r u s
1 0 . 0 2 . 2 0 2 0 I W M A w e l c o m e s P o p e ’ s m e s s a g e f o r w o r l d d a y o f t h e s i c k
3 0 . 0 1 . 2 0 2 0 I W M A c a l l s f o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l s u p p l y c h a i n t o f i g h t c o r o n a v i r u s
0 1 . 0 1 . 2 0 2 0 I P h y s i c i a n l e a d e r s s e n d a n n i v e r s a r y m e s s a g e o f t h a n k s t o n u r s e s
1 9 . 1 2 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A u r g e s l e g i s l a t i o n o n v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t p h y s i c i a n s
1 1 . 1 2 . 2 0 1 9 I P h y s i c i a n s n e e d m o r e t i m e w i t h t h e i r p a t i e n t s
0 5 . 1 2 . 2 0 1 9 I S e n s e l e s s k i l l i n g o f J a p a n e s e d o c t o r c o n d e m n e d
0 4 . 1 2 . 2 0 1 9 I N o c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n o f m e d i c a l p r a c t i c e , s a y s W M A
1 9 . 1 1 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A d e p l o r e s b r e a k d o w n i n H o n g K o n g m e d i c a l c a r e
1 9 . 1 1 . 2 0 1 9 I A t t a c k s o n c h i l d r e n ’ s h o s p i t a l s m u s t e n d
0 5 . 1 1 . 2 0 1 9 I V i o l e n c e a g a i n s t h e a l t h p r o f e s s i o n s a s i g n i f i c a n t p u b l i c h e a l t h
c h a l l e n g e
3 1 . 1 0 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A i s s u e s r e v i s e d g u i d e l i n e s o n g e n e t i c t e s t i n g
2 9 . 1 0 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A u r g e s a l l g o v e r n m e n t s t o i n t r o d u c e s u g a r t a x
2 8 . 1 0 . 2 0 1 9 I P h y s i c i a n s d e m a n d a c c e l e r a t e d a c t i o n o n c l i m a t e c h a n g e
2 6 . 1 0 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A r e a f f i r m s o p p o s i t i o n t o e u t h a n a s i a a n d p h y s i c i a n – a s s i s t e d
s u i c i d e
2 5 . 1 0 . 2 0 1 9 I M e d i c a l s t u d e n t s a n d p h y s i c i a n s n e e d t o p r a c t i c e w i t h e m p a t h y i n
c a r i n g f o r p a t i e n t s , s a y s n e w W M A P r e s i d e n t
2 7 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 9 I C a l l t o e n d d o g – t r a n s m i t t e d h u m a n r a b i e s b y 2 0 3 0
1 6 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 9 I W o r l d ’ s h e a l t h p r o f e s s i o n a l s c a l l f o r a n e n d t o S y r i a h o s p i t a l a i r
s t r i k e s
0 3 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A c o n d e m n s l a t e s t k i l l i n g o f d o c t o r
1 5 . 0 8 . 2 0 1 9 I A r r e s t o f h e a l t h p r o f e s s i o n a l s d e p l o r e d
0 2 . 0 8 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A ’ s u r g e n t p l e a f o r r e l e a s e o f d o c t o r f a c i n g d e a t h p e n a l t y
1 7 . 0 6 . 2 0 1 9 I C o n v i c t e d p h y s i c i a n s r e c e i v e m e s s a g e o f s u p p o r t f r o m w o r l d ’ s
d o c t o r s
1 2 . 0 6 . 2 0 1 9 I P h y s i c i a n l e a d e r s c a l l f o r e n d t o v i o l e n c e i n H o n d u r a s
0 4 . 0 6 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A w e l c o m e s S w i s s c o u r t d e c i s i o n
2 8 . 0 5 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A w e l c o m e s d e c i s i o n o n b u r n o u t
2 2 . 0 5 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A s i g n s u p t o p r o m o t i n g u n i v e r s a l h e a l t h c o v e r a g e
2 1 . 0 5 . 2 0 1 9 I W o r l d g o v e r n m e n t s u r g e d t o c o n d e m n d o c t o r s ’ s e n t e n c e s
1 5 . 0 5 . 2 0 1 9 I P h y s i c i a n l e a d e r s r e a f f i r m o p p o s i t i o n t o I A A F r u l e s
1 5 . 0 5 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A l e a d e r ’ s w a r n i n g o v e r s u b s t i t u t i n g p h y s i c i a n s
0 9 . 0 5 . 2 0 1 9 I T u r k i s h h u n g e r s t r i k e p r o t e s t b y W M A
0 3 . 0 5 . 2 0 1 9 I S t a t e m e n t o n t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e t r i a l a g a i n s t t h e T u r k i s h d o c t o r
l e a d e r s
0 2 . 0 5 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A R e i t e r a t e s a d v i c e t o p h y s i c i a n s n o t t o i m p l e m e n t I A A F R u l e s
o n c l a s s i f y i n g w o m e n a t h l e t e s
3 0 . 0 4 . 2 0 1 9 I W M A c a l l s f o r T a i w a n ’ s p a r t i c i p a t i o n a t W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y
Constituent Membership
The physicians of this world are typically
represented by national and territorial medical
associations of their own regions.
Such associations are broadly representative of
the physicians of their country by virtue of
their membership, with their voting
membership being limited to physicians and
medical students. They are not subject or
directed by any office or agency of
government.
Advantages
1. Recognition and acceptance as a member
of an international organization such as the
WMA lends the power of a global community
to a National Medical Association (NMA). This
underlines the importance and relevance of
the NMA.
2. The WMA is in official relations with United
Nations agencies such as the World Health
Organization, which gives NMAs and
Associate Members access to these
international bodies.
3. By participating in debates with colleagues
from all over the world, NMAs and Associate
Members have the opportunity to collaborate
on ethical guidance and leadership in health
care.
4. Information and knowledge can be sourced
from the WMA, which can contribute to the
optimal efficacy of NMAs and individual
physicians.
5. NMAs and Associate Members can make
use of the WMA’s products and services.
WMA currently has a total of 113 members as of October 2019. Detailed list on the WMA website.
M E M B E R S H I P W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
Associate Membership Advantages
Associate membership is limited to physicians
(as defined in the WMA Bylaws) and medical
students who are properly enrolled in a
recognised medical school, who have applied
for such membership and who have paid the
amount of dues prescribed for such members.
Associate membership is available to such
individual physicians and medical students
whether or not their National Medical
Association is a Constituent Member of the
World Medical Association.
1. The privilege of attending and participating
in WMA annual assemblies.
2. Introductions to professional leaders in your
field and opportunities to visit medical and
health institutions abroad.
3. Information on medical meetings abroad.
4. A service department which will assist you
in meeting your colleagues both at home and
abroad.
5. A membership certificate for display,
6. WMA secretariat consultation, service and
small meeting center.
7. Preferred access to the WMA Education
Portal for Continuing Medical Education and
Continuing Professional Development.
8. Publications of the World Medical
Association.
9. Access to the internal discussion
documents on policy development.
WMA currently has more than 1000 active
Associate Members as of April 2019.
The registration page is available on the WMA
website.
P A G E 1 7 |
P A G E 1 8 |
BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER
FOR THE YEARS 2018 AND 2017
F I N A N C I A L R E P O R T W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEARS
2018 AND 2017
WMA SECRETARIAT
Dr. Miguel R. JORGE
President
Brazil
Dr. David Barbe
President-Elect
United States
Dr. Leonid EIDELMAN
Immediate Past President
Israel
Dr. Frank Ulrich
MONTGOMERY
Chairperson of Council
Germany
Dr. Jung Yul PARK
Chairperson of the Finance and
Planning Committee until
December 2018
Korea
Dr. Osahon ENABULELE
Chairperson of the Socio-
Medical Affairs Committee
Nigeria
Dr. Joseph HEYMAN
Chairperson of the Associate
Members
United States
W H O W E A R E W M A 2 0 1 9 A N N U A L R E P O R T
Dr. Otmar KLOIBER
Secretary-General
Germany
Dr. Mari MICHINAGA
Vice-Chairperson of Council
Japan
Dr. Ravindra Sitaram
WANKHEDKAR
Treasurer
India
Dr Andreas RUDKJØBING
Chairperson of the Medical
Ethics Committee
Denmark
P A G E 1 9 |
Dr. Julia TAINIJOKI-SEYER
Medical Advisor
Clarisse DELORME
Advocacy Advisor
Yoonsun PARK (Sunny)
Head of Operations
Magda MIHAILA
Communication and Information Manager
Roderic DENNETT
Spanish Translator
Anne-Marie DELAGE
Office Secretary
Marie Isabelle PIN HARRY
Technical Assistant
Radhia SMAALI
Maintenance
WMA LEADERS
Part of the WMA Leaders with the representatives of the
Georgian Medical Association
13, ch. du Levant, CIB – Bâtiment A, 01210,
Ferney-Voltaire, France
Phone: +33 4 50 40 75 75
Fax: +33 4 50 40 59 37
wma@wma.net
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